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HR 3571 104th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Church and state Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Confidential communications Eavesdropping Electronic surveillance Fines (Penalties) Government Operations and Politics Law Magnetic tapes Misconduct in office Public records Religion Religious liberty Right of privacy Science, Technology, Communications Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1996

Introduced: June 4, 1996 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 26, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Jun 4, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 4, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose penalties upon persons who, under color of governmental authority, surreptitiously listen to or record any communication that is privileged because of its religious character.

Authorizes any person aggrieved by a violation consisting of the recording of a communication to obtain, in a civil action, the prompt destruction of that recording and any copies or transcripts made from such recording.

What's happening now June 26, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jul 9, 1996
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Jun 10, 1996
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jun 10, 1996
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3571: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3571/
MLA
"H.R. 3571: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3571/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3571, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3571/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3571: Religious Communication Sanctity Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3571/)
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