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H.R. 5525: End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

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H.R. 5525: End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-06-16 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 207 - 143 (Roll no. 334).

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-06-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 334 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR5525 (2016-06-21), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 207 - 143 (Roll no. 334). (final step reached)
  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

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

Plain summary

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016 This bill prohibits a provider of commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service from receiving universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934 through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Lifeline program, which provides subsidies for discounts on monthly telephone or broadband service (e.g., Internet service on mobile phones) to qualifying low-income consumers. The FCC must continue to collect universal service contributions from telecommunications carriers through 2017 based on mobile service support provided in 2016 despite the bill's prohibition on Lifeline universal service support for mobile services. But the amounts collected for mobile services must be deposited in the Treasury for deficit reduction instead of being distributed for universal service support.

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

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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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, Austin [R-GA-8] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5525, End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016 (2016-06-21)

Cosponsors on this site

Pete Sessions (R-TX), Rick W. Allen (R-GA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] reported raising $1.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5525 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114