United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 985 (111th)
Free Flow of Information Act of 2009
Introduced
11 February 2009
Last action
1 April 2009 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Pence, Mike [R-IN-6], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3], Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Rep. Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1], Rep. Wu, David [D-OR-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10], Rep. Mack, Connie [R-FL-14], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Berry, Marion [D-AR-1], Rep. Giffords, Gabrielle [D-AZ-8], Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20], Rep. Putnam, Adam H. [R-FL-12], Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1], Rep. Radanovich, George [R-CA-19], Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5], Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18], Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1], Rep. Rehberg, Denny [R-MT-At Large], Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1], Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8], Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30], Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3], Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8], Rep. Lee, Christopher J. [R-NY-26], Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Subjects
Defence
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 - Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency of the federal government), in any matter arising under federal law, from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document related to information obtained or created as part of engaging in journalism unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including determinations that: (1) alternative sources have been exhausted; (2) the testimony or document sought is critical to the investigation, prosecution, or defense of a crime or the successful completion of a noncriminal matter; (3) disclosure of an information source's identity is necessary to prevent an act of terrorism, harm to national security, imminent death, significant bodily harm or to identify a person who has disclosed a trade secret, individually identifiable health information, or certain nonpublic personal information; and (4) the public interest in compelling disclosure of the information or document involved outweighs the public interest in gathering or disseminating news or information. Allows a court, in making the last of those determinations, to consider the extent of any harm to national security. Defines "covered person" as a person who regularly gathers, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports, or publishes information concerning matters of public interest for dissemination to the public for a substantial portion of the person's livelihood or substantial financial gain, including a supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such a person. Excludes from that definition foreign powers and their agents and certain terrorist organizations and individuals. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored. Prohibits this Act from being construed as applying to civil defamation, slander, or libel claims or defenses under state law. Exempts certain criminal or tortious conduct. Applies this Act to communications service providers with regard to testimony or any record, information, or other communication that relates to a business transaction between such providers and covered persons. Sets forth notice requirements. Permits a court to delay notice to a covered person upon determining that such notice would pose a substantial threat to the integrity of a criminal investigation.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
11 February 2009
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
11 February 2009
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E242-243)
Source: IntroReferral
11 February 2009
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
11 February 2009
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
25 March 2009
Reported
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Source: Committee
25 March 2009
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
30 March 2009
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 26.
Source: Calendars
30 March 2009
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 111-61.
Source: Committee
30 March 2009
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 111-61.
Source: Committee
31 March 2009
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
31 March 2009
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4204-4205)
Source: Floor
31 March 2009
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4204-4205)
Source: Floor
31 March 2009
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 985.
Source: Floor
31 March 2009
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4204-4209)
Source: Floor
31 March 2009
Floor
Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
1 April 2009
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 1 April 2009 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 31 March 2009 · Download file
- Reported in House · 30 March 2009 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 11 February 2009 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 1 April 2009
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 1 April 2009
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 31 March 2009
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 31 March 2009
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 30 March 2009
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 30 March 2009
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 11 February 2009
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 11 February 2009
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Passed House without amendment
summary · EN · 11 February 2009
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Reported to House without amendment
summary · EN · 11 February 2009
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Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 11 February 2009
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Pence, Mike [R-IN-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Wu, David [D-OR-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Mack, Connie [R-FL-14] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R · Sponsor
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Berry, Marion [D-AR-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Giffords, Gabrielle [D-AZ-8] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Putnam, Adam H. [R-FL-12] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Radanovich, George [R-CA-19] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Rehberg, Denny [R-MT-At Large] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lee, Christopher J. [R-NY-26] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · D · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 53 sponsors and actors.
Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/985
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/111/hr/985
- us · 111-hr-985 · source updated 10 August 2026