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H.R. 2495: Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017

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H.R. 2495: Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-05-17 · Commerce · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-05-17 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection. 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

Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017

Plain summary

Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017 This bill prohibits third-party online hotel reservation sellers from charging a consumer's credit card or financial accounts in an Internet transaction for a hotel unless they disclose: (1) a description of the offered good or service, the cost, and other material terms before the conclusion of the transaction; (2) that the third-party seller is not affiliated with the hotel owner or an entity that provides the hotel services or accommodations; (3) that the third-party seller is not an exhibition organizer, a meeting planner, or the official housing bureau for an event at the hotel; and (4) the brand identity of the third party online or over the phone. The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and states to enforce against violations. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that the FTC should revise its website to make it easier for consumers and businesses to report complaints of deceptive practices with respect to online booking of hotel reservations.

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

Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017

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. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] · 42 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Peter Welch (D-VT), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Tom Cole (R-OK), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Andy Harris (R-MD), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), James A. Himes (D-CT), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] reported raising $2.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (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-cong115-hr2495 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115