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Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003

Introduced: March 6, 2003 Introduced by: Sanders, Bernard Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 8, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5348)
May 5, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Mar 12, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E441-442)
Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 6, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (the Act) to provide that no application by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to a U.S. court for an order requiring the production of tangible things for an investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information from a U.S. person or to protect against international terrorism may be made for the sole purpose of searching for, or seizing from, a bookseller or library documentary materials that contain personally identifiable information concerning a patron. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude a physical search for documentary materials (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) under other provisions of law.

Revises congressional reporting requirements under the Act to require the Attorney General, in informing Congress with respect to applications for orders approving requests for the production of tangible things, to: (1) describe the specific purpose of each order application; (2) analyze the effectiveness of each application that was granted or modified in protecting U.S. citizens against terrorism; and (3) make public such information provided in a manner consistent with the national security of the United States.

What's happening now July 8, 2004

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5348)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1157: Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1157/
MLA
"H.R. 1157: Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1157/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1157, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1157/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1157: Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1157/)
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