Skip to main content
HR 4151 105th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedure Administrative remedies Bank fraud Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Commerce Compensation for victims of crime Computer crimes Congress Congressional reporting requirements Conspiracy Consumer credit Counterfeiting Credit cards Debit cards Electronic funds transfers Federal employees Finance and Financial Sector Financial disclosure Fines (Penalties)

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998

Introduced: June 25, 1998 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 30, 1998
Signed by President.
Oct 30, 1998
Became Public Law No: 105-318.
Oct 20, 1998
Presented to President.
Oct 15, 1998
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 14, 1998
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12604-12605)
Oct 14, 1998
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12604-12605)
Oct 8, 1998
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Oct 7, 1998
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Oct 7, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 7, 1998
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Oct 7, 1998
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Oct 7, 1998
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9993-9998)
Oct 7, 1998
Mr. McCollum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 7, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Jun 25, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 25, 1998
Introduced in House
 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

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful for anyone, knowingly and unlawfully, to: (1) obtain, possess, or transfer five or more means of identification; or (2) use one or more means of identification. Defines "means of identification" as any name or number that may be used to assume the identity of another.

Prescribes criminal penalties for first and subsequent offenses involving fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents (identity fraud), including for such offenses committed in connection with other specified crimes. Subjects to the same penalties any person who attempts or conspires to commit such an offense.

Provides for mandatory restitution for identity fraud victims which may include payment for any costs, including attorney's fees, incurred: (1) in clearing a credit history or rating; or (2) in connection with any civil or administrative proceeding to satisfy any debt, lien, or other obligation arising as a result of the defendant's actions.

Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide an appropriate penalty for such offenses, taking into account specified factors.

Directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish procedures to: (1) log and acknowledge the receipt of complaints by individuals having reason to believe that one or more of their means of identification have been assumed, stolen, or otherwise unlawfully acquired; (2) provide informational materials to such individuals; and (3) refer such complaints to the appropriate entities, including national consumer reporting agencies and law enforcement agencies.

What's happening now October 30, 1998

Became Public Law No: 105-318.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 512 Related bill Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 3 Republican 1 Independent 1
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Aug 6, 1998
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Jun 25, 1998
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Jun 25, 1998
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jun 25, 1998
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jun 25, 1998
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4151: Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4151/
MLA
"H.R. 4151: Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4151/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4151, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4151/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4151: Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-4151/)
Report a problem