Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Nov 04, 2009 Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.

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• Committee Assignment: House Judiciary

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary committee.
• Committee Assignment: Senate Judiciary

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  This bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

Supporting Organizations

• Sierra Club

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• Public Citizen

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• Union of Concerned Scientists

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• National Consumers League

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• Defenders of Wildlife

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• National Whistleblower Center

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• Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility

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• American Association for Justice

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• American Association of Law Libraries

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• American Association of Small Property Owners

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  I know that the organization American Association of Small Property Owners supports H.R.985
• American Federation of Government Employees

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  I know that the organization American Federation of Government Employees supports H.R.985
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

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  I know that the organization American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees supports H.R.985
• American Library Association

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• Bill of Rights Defense Committee

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• Center for Corporate Policy

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• Center for Inquiry - Washington DC

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• Citizen Outreach

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• Citizens for Health

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• American Civil Liberties Union

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• Center for American Progress

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• EnviroJustice

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• FairVote

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• Federally Employed Women

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• Friends Committee on National Legislation

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• Global Green USA

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• Green Party

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• The National Coalition Against Censorship

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• National Employment Lawyers Association

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• National Organization for Women

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  I know that the organization National Organization for Women supports H.R.985
• National Taxpayers Union

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• National Treasury Employees Union

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• Office of Management and Budget Watch

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• AFL-CIO

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• National Women's Health Network

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• OpenTheGovernment.org

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• Physicians for Social Responsibility

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• Progressive Democrats of America

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• Government Accountability Project

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• Federation of American Scientists

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Most-commented sections of the bill text

• (B) in a matter other than a criminal investigation or prosecution, based on information obtained from a person other than the covered person, the testimony or document sought is critical to the successful completion of the matter; (2 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "(B) in a matter other than a criminal investigation or prosecution, based on information obtained from a person other than the covered person, the testimony or document sought is critical to the successful completion of the matter;",
• (a) Conditions for Compelled Disclosure- In any matter arising under Federal law, a Federal entity may not compel a covered person to provide testimony or produce any document related to information obtained or created by such covered person as part of engaging in journalism, unless a court determines by a preponderance of the evidence, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to such covered person-- (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "(a) Conditions for Compelled Disclosure- In any matter arising under Federal law, a Federal entity may not compel a covered person to provide testimony or produce any document related to information obtained or created by such covered person as part of engaging in journalism, unless a court determines by a preponderance of the evidence, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to such covered person--",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On June 04, 2009, by symbolscape - come on, 6 commentators and not a single one of you read or understands the language of the bill?!?!? wtf!!!! what kind of website is this? why are you people wasting your time on a site like this when you can't take the 10 minutes to actually read the bill? there's plenty of other places on the world wide web where you are not only allowed but encouraged to flagellate yourself and demonstrate your ignorance to the whole wide world. go find one. but if you choose to remain here, please remember that just because you have the right to speak does not mean you have t to exercise it. this is a media shield bill that is designed to confer protections to journalists, not politicians. i would advise that you read the "covered persons" section of the bill to see who qualifies for the protections asserted. these protections would serve journalists -- journalists who investigate corrupt officials. they would not protect public servants wishing to hide information.

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  As noted by symbolscape, a user on OpenCongress.org, on June 04, 2009, "come on, 6 commentators and not a single one of you read or understands the language of the bill?!?!? wtf!!!! what kind of website is this? why are you people wasting your time on a site like this when you can't take the 10 minutes to actually read the bill? there's plenty of other places on the world wide web where you are not only allowed but encouraged to flagellate yourself and demonstrate your ignorance to the whole wide world. go find one. but if you choose to remain here, please remember that just because you have the right to speak does not mean you have t to exercise it. this is a media shield bill that is designed to confer protections to journalists, not politicians. i would advise that you read the "covered persons" section of the bill to see who qualifies for the protections asserted. these protections would serve journalists -- journalists who investigate corrupt officials. they would not protect public servants wishing to hide information. "
• On October 11, 2009, by NotAPundit - The word that comes to my mind as I read this bill is "toothless". What is the point of protections for journalists that only apply to big corporate media (who may not want to risk taking on some controversial stories), and only when it doesn't annoy the government or any corporation with deep enough pockets to sue claiming their trade secrets have been revealed?

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  As noted by NotAPundit, a user on OpenCongress.org, on October 11, 2009, "The word that comes to my mind as I read this bill is "toothless". What is the point of protections for journalists that only apply to big corporate media (who may not want to risk taking on some controversial stories), and only when it doesn't annoy the government or any corporation with deep enough pockets to sue claiming their trade secrets have been revealed?"
• On May 25, 2009, by Logiphage - It's almost am automatic indication that if the term 'free' is in the name of legislation it's actually anti-freedom.

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  As noted by Logiphage, a user on OpenCongress.org, on May 25, 2009, "It's almost am automatic indication that if the term 'free' is in the name of legislation it's actually anti-freedom."

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Medical Whistleblower: The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement ... - December 21, 2010 by Medical Whistleblower - The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) H.R. 985 had passed the House of Representatives with a strong bi-partisan majority was fully supported by the whistleblower community and contained true due process rights for all ...

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  As noted by Medical Whistleblower on December 21, 2010, "The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) H.R. 985 had passed the House of Representatives with a strong bi-partisan majority was fully supported by the whistleblower community and contained true due process rights for all ..." (http://medicalwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2010/12/whistleblower-protection-enhancement.html)
• Speaker Pelosi's 2006 Democratic Platform: A Final Call for Action ... - December 14, 2010 by FAA Lawyer Whistleblower - In 2007, the House was successful in passing a whistleblower protection bill, H.R. 985. The Senate, unfortunately, was not. Now the situation is reversed. However, there isn't much time to fulfill your promise from 2006. ...

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  As noted by FAA Lawyer Whistleblower on December 14, 2010, "In 2007, the House was successful in passing a whistleblower protection bill, H.R. 985. The Senate, unfortunately, was not. Now the situation is reversed. However, there isn't much time to fulfill your promise from 2006. ..." (http://agcwhistleblower.com/2010/12/15/speaker-pelosis-2006-democratic-platform-a-final-call-for-action/)
• Speaker Pelosi's 2006 Democratic Platform: A Final Call for Action ... - December 14, 2010 by reglawyer's FDL blog - In 2007, the House was successful in passing a whistleblower protection bill, H.R. 985. The Senate, unfortunately, was not. Now the situation is reversed. However, there isn't much time to fulfill your promise from 2006. ...

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  As noted by reglawyer's FDL blog on December 14, 2010, "In 2007, the House was successful in passing a whistleblower protection bill, H.R. 985. The Senate, unfortunately, was not. Now the situation is reversed. However, there isn't much time to fulfill your promise from 2006. ..." (http://my.firedoglake.com/reglawyer/2010/12/15/speaker-pelosis-2006-democratic-platform-a-final-call-for-action/)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Language of proposed shield law would extend protection to student journalists - November 02, 2009 by Student Press Law Center - According to the amended text of HR 985, a covered person is, "A person with the primary intent to investigate events and procure material in order to ...

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  As noted by Student Press Law Center on November 02, 2009, " According to the amended text of HR 985, a covered person is, "A person with the primary intent to investigate events and procure material in order to ... " (http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1989&year=)
• Shield becoming the bridesmaid bill - October 14, 2009 by Radio Business Report - The committee will also consider its companion House version, HR 985, Free Flow of Information Act of 2009. The session is scheduled for Thursday 10/22/09 ...

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  As noted by Radio Business Report on October 14, 2009, "The committee will also consider its companion House version, HR 985, Free Flow of Information Act of 2009. The session is scheduled for Thursday 10/22/09 ..." (http://www.rbr.com/media-news/washington-beat/17816.html)
• Shield law for reporters would benefit public - October 07, 2009 by Bloomington Pantagraph - There's a reason why the legislation pending in Congress - HR 985, S 448 - is called the Free Flow of Information Act. It's because protecting the ability ...

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  As noted by Bloomington Pantagraph on October 07, 2009, "There's a reason why the legislation pending in Congress - HR 985, S 448 - is called the Free Flow of Information Act. It's because protecting the ability ..." (http://www.pantagraph.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_721b3a48-b45b-11de-be28-001cc4c03286.html)