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United States · Law · S

S. 877 (108th)

CAN-SPAM Act of 2003

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

10 April 2003

Last action

16 December 2003 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 108-187.

Sponsors

Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA], Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO], Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME], Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR], Sen. Fitzgerald, Peter [R-IL], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

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Summary

Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 or CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 - Sets forth the determination of Congress that: (1) there is a substantial government interest in regulation of unsolicited commercial electronic mail ("spam"); (2) senders of spam should not mislead recipients as to the source or content of such mail; and (3) recipients of spam have a right to decline to receive additional spam from the same source. Amends Federal criminal law to subject to a fine or imprisonment any person who initiates the transmission to a protected computer of a spam message with knowledge and intent that it contains header information that is materially false or misleading. Sets forth protections against spam that include: (1) a prohibition of false or misleading transmission information; (2) a prohibition of deceptive subject headings; (3) mandatory inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in unsolicited commercial electronic mail; (4) a prohibition of transmission of spam after objection; (5) mandatory inclusion of identifier, opt-out, and physical address in spam; and (6) a prohibition against initiating transmission to a protected computer of an unlawful, unsolicited commercial electron mail message, or to assist in the origination of such message through the provision of addresses, with knowledge or reckless disregard as to whether the recipient's address was obtained from an Internet website or proprietary online service or from a proprietary online service that included a notice that the operator will not provide addresses for initiating unsolicited messages. Confers enforcement powers for violations of this Act upon the Federal Trade Commission, designated Federal agencies, and States. Permits a provider of Internet access service adversely affected by a violation of this Act to bring a civil action. Sets forth a maximum civil penalty of $1.5 million for knowing and wilful violations of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 10 April 2003

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5204-5207)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 10 April 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5204)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 10 April 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 19 June 2003

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 16 July 2003

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 209.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 16 July 2003

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-102.

    Source: Committee

  7. 16 July 2003

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-102.

    Source: Committee

  8. 22 October 2003

    Reported

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S13012-13045; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S13012-13019)

    Source: Floor

  9. 22 October 2003

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 0. Record Vote Number: 404.(text: CR 10/23/2003 S13176-13182)

    Source: Floor

  10. 24 October 2003

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  11. 24 October 2003

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  12. 24 October 2003

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  13. 21 November 2003

    Floor

    Mr. Tauzin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  14. 21 November 2003

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  15. 21 November 2003

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 877.

    Source: Floor

  16. 21 November 2003

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12186-12198)

    Source: Floor

  17. 22 November 2003

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

    Source: Floor

  18. 22 November 2003

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  19. 22 November 2003

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 5 (Roll no. 671). (text: CR 11/21/2003 H12186-12191)

    Source: Floor

  20. 22 November 2003

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 5 (Roll no. 671).(text: CR 11/21/2003 H12186-12191)

    Source: Floor

  21. 22 November 2003

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR 11/21/2003 H12297-12298)

    Source: Floor

  22. 25 November 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Senate concurred in the House amendment with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S15938-15948)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  23. 25 November 2003

    NotUsed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendment with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S15938-15948)

    Source: NotUsed

  24. 8 December 2003

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  25. 8 December 2003

    Passed

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment: CR H12854-12859)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  26. 8 December 2003

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment: CR H12854-12859)

    Source: NotUsed

  27. 8 December 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Tauzin asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment. (consideration: CR H12854-12861)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  28. 8 December 2003

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  29. 11 December 2003

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  30. 11 December 2003

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  31. 16 December 2003

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 108-187.

    Source: President

  32. 16 December 2003

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  33. 16 December 2003

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

22 October 2003 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 877 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 97 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 3

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

18 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 16 December 2003

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 16 December 2003

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 16 December 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 25 November 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 25 November 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 November 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 21 November 2003

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 October 2003

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 October 2003

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 22 October 2003

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 16 July 2003

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 16 July 2003

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 16 July 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 10 April 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 10 April 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 10 April 2003

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Sponsors

Related records

Related across the Repo ecosystem

Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.

Direct relationships

  • Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM

    Same us record 108-s-877 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.

    CAN-SPAM Act of 2003

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.