H.R. 744: Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-02-10 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2005-02-10 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 200 (2005): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR744 (2005-05-23), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2005

Plain summary

Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization, or exceeding authorized access, by causing a computer program or code to be copied onto the protected computer, and intentionally using that program or code: (1) in furtherance of another federal criminal offense; (2) to obtain or transmit personal information (including a Social Security number or other government-issued identification number, a bank or credit card number, or an associated password or access code) with intent to defraud or injure a person or cause damage to a protected computer; or (3) to impair the security protection of that computer. Prohibits any person from bringing a civil action under state law premised upon the defendant's violating this Act. Provides that this Act does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency or a U.S. intelligence agency. Authorizes appropriations to the Attorney General for prosecutions needed to discourage the use of spyware and the practice called phishing. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice should vigorously prosecute those who use spyware to commit crimes and those that conduct phishing scams.

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

Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 744, Internet Spyware (I-Spy) Prevention Act of 2005 (2005-05-20); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 744, Internet Spyware (I-Spy) Prevention Act of 2005 (2005-05-20)

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ed Case (D-HI)

Recorded votes

House roll call 200 (2005): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR744 (2005-05-23): Passed

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hr744.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hr>

Record fed-us-cong109-hr744 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109