H.R. 140 - 118th Congress (2023-2024) - Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

House Bill 140

118^th Congress(2023-2024)

Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

Active

Amendments

Passed House on Mar 9, 2023

Overview

Text

Sponsor

Introduced

Jan 9, 2023

Latest Action

Mar 14, 2023

Origin Chamber

House

Type

Bill Number

140

Congress

118

Policy Area

Sponsorship by Party

Kentucky

Arizona

Arizona

Florida

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Georgia

Jake LaTurner

Kansas

Clay Higgins

Louisiana

Lisa McClain

Michigan

Nicholas A. Langworthy

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

South Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Washington

Glenn Grothman

Wisconsin

House Votes (2)

Senate Votes (0)

Question

On Passage

Status

Passed

Type

Roll Call Type

Yea-And-Nay

Roll Number

141

House Roll Call Votes

Republicans

Democrats

Select State

Summary

Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

This bill generally prohibits federal employees from censoring the speech of others while acting in an official capacity.

Specifically, the bill prohibits employees of executive agencies or who are otherwise in the competitive service from (1) using their official authority to influence or advocate for a third party, including a private entity, to censor speech; (2) censoring the speech of any person who has a pending regulatory application with, or is the subject of or a participant in an active enforcement action by, the employee's office; or (3) engaging in censorship while on duty, wearing a uniform, or using official government property. Certain presidential appointees may not censor speech at any time, including outside normal duty hours.

Employees are subject to disciplinary action, civil penalties, or both for violations.

The bill defines censor or censorship to include ordering or advocating for the removal of lawful speech, the addition of disclaimers, or the restriction of access with respect to any platform (e.g., social media).

Text (4)

March 14, 2023

March 9, 2023

March 2, 2023

January 9, 2023

Amendments (10)

Show All Amendments

Displaying only amendments with a detailed public record (2)

Mar 08, 2023

Not Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 105

Amendment sought to strike subsection (e) within the Prohibition on Federal employee censorship which states while using any information system or information technology (as defined under section 11101 of title 40).

Active

Mar 08, 2023

Not Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 103

Amendment sought to ensure that federal employees entering into collective bargaining agreements using taxpayer funded time (Section 7131) are prohibited from engaging in censorship of private entities.

Active

Actions (45)

Show Only Major Actions

03/14/2023

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

03/09/2023

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

03/09/2023

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 206 (Roll no. 141).

03/09/2023

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 206 (Roll no. 141).

03/09/2023

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 218 (Roll no. 140).

03/09/2023

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1230-1232)

03/09/2023

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 140, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit the bill and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Landsman demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to recommit until a time to be announced.

03/09/2023

The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

03/09/2023

Mr. Landsman moved to recommit to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. (text: CR H1221)

03/09/2023

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

03/09/2023

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

03/09/2023

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 140.

03/09/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rose amendment No. 10.

03/09/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rose amendment No. 9.

03/09/2023

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

03/09/2023

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1219-1221)

03/08/2023

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 140 as unfinished business.

03/08/2023

On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

03/08/2023

Mr. Comer moved that the committee rise.

03/08/2023

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

03/08/2023

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1196-1198)

03/08/2023

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

03/08/2023

Mr. Comer moved that the Committee rise.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 8.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 7.

03/08/2023

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 6.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Good (VA) amendment No. 5.

03/08/2023

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Perry amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Fitzpatrick demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perry amendment No.4.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NC) amendment No. 3.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Comer amendment No. 2.

03/08/2023

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 199, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Clyde amendment No. 1.

03/08/2023

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 140.

03/08/2023

The Speaker designated the Honorable Mike Flood to act as Chairman of the Committee.

03/08/2023

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 199 and Rule XVIII.

03/08/2023

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 140, H.J. Res. 27 and S. 619. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 140, under a structured rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J.Res. 27 and S. 619, under closed rules. General debate is limited to one hour of debate on all measures.

03/08/2023

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 199. (consideration: CR H1180-1194; text: CR H1185-1186)

03/07/2023

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 199 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 140, H.J. Res. 27 and S. 619. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 140, under a structured rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J.Res. 27 and S. 619, under closed rules. General debate is limited to one hour of debate on all measures.

03/02/2023

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. H. Rept. 118-5.

03/02/2023

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.

02/28/2023

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 20.

02/28/2023

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

01/09/2023

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

01/09/2023

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Mar 18, 2024 3:06:25 PM