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H.R. 5834: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

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H.R. 5834: Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-07-14 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-07-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · 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 Energy and Commerce. 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

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

Plain summary

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit commercial mobile or data service providers from providing service on smart phones that: (1) have been reported to such provider as stolen by an authorized user, or (2) are listed as stolen on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). When a smart phone is reported stolen to a service provider, the provider must notify the CEIR with information necessary to identify the phone. Smart phones must be equipped with: (1) preloaded antitheft functionality at no additional cost to purchasers, or be capable of downloading such functionality at no cost; and (2) a mobile device identification number. A criminal penalty is established for anyone who violates prohibitions against: (1) removing, obliterating, tampering with, or altering a smart phone's mobile device identification number; (2) using, producing, trafficking in, having control or custody of, or possessing hardware or software, knowing it has been configured to engage in such identification number removal or alteration violations; or (3) selling a smart phone for which the identification number is listed as stolen on the CEIR.

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

Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

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.

Words on this page, explained (2)
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.
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-hr5834 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114