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H.R. 1110: Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2009

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H.R. 1110: Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2009

111th Congress · introduced 2009-02-23 · 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

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-02-23 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 986 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR1110 (2009-12-16), Passed. See all
  4. 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.
  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

Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2009

Plain summary

Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2009 or the PHONE Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) impose a fine, a five-year prison term, or both, on anyone who knowingly uses or provides to another, in interstate or foreign commerce, false caller ID information with intent to wrongfully obtain anything of value; and (2) impose a fine, a one-year prison term, or both, on anyone who knowingly provides caller ID information with the intent to deceive the recipient of the call about the identify of the caller. Exempts from such prohibitions authorized activities of a U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agency. Provides for criminal forfeiture of any gains from violations of this Act and of any equipment, software, or other technology used to commit such violations. Expands the definition of "telephone call," for purposes of this Act, to mean a call made or received using any real time voice communications service, regardless of the technology or network used. Establishes fraud crimes related to electronic mail and caller ID spoofing as predicates for money laundering prosecutions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), 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

Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2009

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1110, Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement (PHONE) Act of 2009 (2009-10-19); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1110, Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement (PHONE) Act of 2009 (2009-10-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] reported raising $882,179 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-hr1110 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111