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H.R. 5542: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional penalty for public officials who abuse their office in furtherance of a felony.

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H.R. 5542: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional penalty for public officials who abuse their office in furtherance of a felony.

109th Congress · introduced 2006-06-07 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2006-06-07 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Cardoza, Dennis A. [D-CA-18] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional penalty for public officials who abuse their office in furtherance of a felony.

Plain summary

Amends the federal criminal code to impose on a public official who engages in conduct in furtherance of a federal felony a fine and two year prison term in addition to any penalties imposed for such felony. Defines "public official" as: (1) an elected official of the United States or of a state of local government; (2) a presidentially-appointed official; and (3) an official appointed to a state or local governmental office by an elected official of a state or local government.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional penalty for public officials who abuse their office in furtherance of a felony.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cardoza, Dennis A. [D-CA-18] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong109-hr5542 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109