Skip to main content
S 2500 100th Congress Senate Law Civil actions and liability Congress Congress and Members of Congress Congressional agencies Congressional employees Constitutional law Courts and Civil Procedure District courts Federal employees Government corporations Government liability House of Representatives Judicial officers Parties to actions Privileges and immunities Senate Torts

Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988

Introduced: June 13, 1988 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 12, 1988
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 12, 1988
H.R. 4612 passed in Senate relating to this measure.
Oct 5, 1988
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1076.
Oct 5, 1988
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment. Without written report.
Oct 5, 1988
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Jul 29, 1988
Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment favorably.
Jun 28, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice.
Jun 13, 1988
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 13, 1988
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to include the judicial and legislative branches of Government within the definition of the term "Federal agency."

States that, for actions brought under such Act, the United States shall be entitled to all defenses otherwise available to an employee of the United States which are based upon judicial or legislative immunity.

Makes such Act the exclusive remedy for actions brought against the United States for injury or loss of property, personal injury, or death resulting from the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a Government employee acting within the scope of their office or employment. States that this restriction shall not apply to cognizable actions against Government employees for money damages for a violation of the Constitution.

Provides that, upon certification by the Attorney General or the court that the employee was acting within the scope of the employee's office or employment at the time of the incident out of which the claim arose, any action commenced upon such claim in a U.S. district court shall be deemed an action against the United States under the provisions of such Act, and the United States shall be substituted as the party defendant. States that such certification shall conclusively establish scope of office or employment for the purpose of removing such an action to a U.S. district court.

What's happening now October 12, 1988

Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2500: Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2500/
MLA
"S. 2500: Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2500/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2500, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2500/.
Markdown link
[S. 2500: Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-2500/)
Report a problem