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    <updateDate>2023-01-11T13:27:13Z</updateDate>
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    <originChamber>House</originChamber>
    <type>HR</type>
    <introducedDate>2015-05-13</introducedDate>
    <congress>114</congress>
    <constitutionalAuthorityStatementText><![CDATA[<pre>[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [<a href='http://www.gpo.gov'>www.gpo.gov</a>]By Mr. FARENTHOLD:H.R. 2304.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:The First Amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates[Page H2959]</pre>]]></constitutionalAuthorityStatementText>
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        <fullName>Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27]</fullName>
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        <lastName>Farenthold</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
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        <fullName>Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]</fullName>
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        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
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        <fullName>Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49]</fullName>
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        <party>R</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>E.</middleName>
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        <fullName>Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8]</fullName>
        <firstName>Trent</firstName>
        <lastName>Franks</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>AZ</state>
        <district>8</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-05-13</sponsorshipDate>
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        <bioguideId>P000598</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>Jared</firstName>
        <lastName>Polis</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CO</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-05-13</sponsorshipDate>
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        <fullName>Rep. Marino, Tom [R-PA-10]</fullName>
        <firstName>Tom</firstName>
        <lastName>Marino</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>PA</state>
        <district>10</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-05-19</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <fullName>Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>J.</firstName>
        <lastName>Forbes</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>VA</state>
        <middleName>Randy</middleName>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-05-21</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>M000312</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>JAMES</firstName>
        <lastName>MCGOVERN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>P.</middleName>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-06-10</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>H001068</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>Jared</firstName>
        <lastName>Huffman</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-06-24</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>P000608</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]</fullName>
        <firstName>Scott</firstName>
        <lastName>Peters</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>H.</middleName>
        <district>52</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-08</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>S000244</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]</fullName>
        <firstName>F.</firstName>
        <lastName>SENSENBRENNER</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>WI</state>
        <middleName>JAMES</middleName>
        <district>5</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>S000583</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]</fullName>
        <firstName>LAMAR</firstName>
        <lastName>SMITH</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <district>21</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001080</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]</fullName>
        <firstName>Judy</firstName>
        <lastName>Chu</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>27</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000397</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]</fullName>
        <firstName>ZOE</firstName>
        <lastName>LOFGREN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>19</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>M001166</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]</fullName>
        <firstName>Jerry</firstName>
        <lastName>McNerney</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>9</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>T000472</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]</fullName>
        <firstName>Mark</firstName>
        <lastName>Takano</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>41</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>H001063</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44]</fullName>
        <firstName>Janice</firstName>
        <lastName>Hahn</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>44</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001156</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]</fullName>
        <firstName>Linda</firstName>
        <lastName>Sánchez</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>T.</middleName>
        <district>38</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001175</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>Jackie</firstName>
        <lastName>Speier</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M001163</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>Doris</firstName>
        <lastName>Matsui</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>O.</middleName>
        <district>6</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>T000460</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]</fullName>
        <firstName>MIKE</firstName>
        <lastName>THOMPSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>5</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>G000559</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>John</firstName>
        <lastName>Garamendi</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>F000030</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]</fullName>
        <firstName>SAM</firstName>
        <lastName>FARR</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>20</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000127</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]</fullName>
        <firstName>RICHARD</firstName>
        <lastName>NOLAN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MN</state>
        <district>8</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>I000057</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>STEVE</firstName>
        <lastName>ISRAEL</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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        <bioguideId>C001038</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOSEPH</firstName>
        <lastName>CROWLEY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-07-29</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>W000820</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Walters, Mimi [R-CA-45]</fullName>
        <firstName>Mimi</firstName>
        <lastName>Walters</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>45</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-10-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B001297</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>Ken</firstName>
        <lastName>Buck</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>CO</state>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-10-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
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        <bioguideId>B001293</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Bishop, Mike [R-MI-8]</fullName>
        <firstName>Mike</firstName>
        <lastName>Bishop</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>MI</state>
        <district>8</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-10-20</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M001157</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]</fullName>
        <firstName>Michael</firstName>
        <lastName>McCaul</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <middleName>T.</middleName>
        <district>10</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2015-12-16</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>H001034</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17]</fullName>
        <firstName>MICHAEL</firstName>
        <lastName>HONDA</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>M.</middleName>
        <district>17</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2016-01-12</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001076</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>Jason</firstName>
        <lastName>Chaffetz</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>UT</state>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2016-02-25</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
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        <bioguideId>B001290</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>Dave</firstName>
        <lastName>Brat</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>VA</state>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2016-04-14</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
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    <policyArea>
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    <summaries>
      <summary>
        <versionCode>00</versionCode>
        <actionDate>2015-05-13</actionDate>
        <actionDesc>Introduced in House</actionDesc>
        <updateDate>2015-06-22T19:42:07Z</updateDate>
        <text><![CDATA[ <p><b>Securing Participation, Engagement, and Knowledge Freedom by Reducing Egregious Efforts Act of 2015 or the SPEAK FREE Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Amends the federal judicial code to allow a person against whom a lawsuit is asserted to file a special motion to dismiss claims referred to as strategic lawsuits against public participation (&quot;SLAPP suits&quot;) that arise from an oral or written statement or other expression, or conduct in furtherance of such expression, by the defendant in connection with an official proceeding or about a matter of public concern. </p> <p>Defines &quot;matter of public concern&quot; as an issue related to: (1) health or safety; (2) environmental, economic, or community well-being; (3) the government; (4) a public official or public figure; or (5) a good, product, or service in the marketplace. </p> <p>Requires courts to grant such a special motion to dismiss if the party filing the motion makes a prima facie showing that the claim asserted against them is a SLAPP suit, unless the responding party demonstrates that the claim is likely to succeed on the merits.</p> <p>Provides exceptions prohibiting courts from granting such a special motion to dismiss if the claim concerns: </p> <ul> <li>a government enforcement action,</li> <li>a business making representations of fact in commercial speech to consumers about its own or a business competitor's goods or services, or</li> <li>a public interest claim on behalf of the general public. </li> </ul> <p>Allows dismissal of private suits, notwithstanding such commercial speech and public interest exceptions, if the claim is against:</p> <ul> <li>a person or entity engaged in activities to disseminate or express ideas to the public in a book or academic journal; </li> <li>any person or entity based upon statements or conduct concerning the creation, dissemination, exhibition, advertisement, or other promotion of journalistic, consumer commentary, dramatic, literary, musical, political, or artistic works, including motion pictures, television programs, or articles published online or in a newspaper or magazine of general circulation; or</li> <li>a nonprofit organization that receives more than 50% of annual revenue grants or awards from, programs of, or reimbursements for services rendered to the government.</li></ul> <p>Sets forth special procedural requirements for discovery and motions. </p> <p>Requires courts to award litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney's fees to private parties that filed and prevailed on certain motions under this Act or to parties that responded to motions found to be frivolous. </p>]]></text>
      </summary>
    </summaries>
    <title>SPEAK FREE Act of 2015</title>
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        <titleType>Display Title</titleType>
        <title>SPEAK FREE Act of 2015</title>
      </item>
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        <titleType>Official Title as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>To amend title 28, United States Code, to create a special motion to dismiss strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP suits).</title>
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        <title>SPEAK FREE Act of 2015</title>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Short Titles as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>Securing Participation, Engagement, and Knowledge Freedom by Reducing Egregious Efforts Act of 2015</title>
      </item>
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        <type>Introduced in House</type>
        <date>2015-05-13T04:00:00Z</date>
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    <latestAction>
      <actionDate>2015-06-01</actionDate>
      <text>Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.</text>
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    <dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
    <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
    <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
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