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H.R. 339 108th Congress House

Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act

Official title: To prevent legislative and regulatory functions from being usurped by civil liability actions brought or continued against food manufacturers, marketers, distr… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prevent legislative and regulatory functions from being usurped by civil liability actions brought or continued against food manufacturers, marketers, distributors, advertisers, sellers, and trade associations for claims of injury relating to a person's weight gain, obesity, or any health condition associated with weight gain or obesity.

Introduced: July 14, 2003 See on congress.gov
Law AdvertisingAgriculture and FoodBeveragesCivil actions and liability
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CommerceDamagesDiscovery (Law)District courtsEvidence (Law)Food industryFood safetyGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthInjunctionsJurisdictionObesityProducts liabilitySoft drink industryState courtsState lawsTrade associationsWarranties
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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 38 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 26, 2004
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 463.
Mar 25, 2004
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Mar 11, 2004
Received in the Senate.
Mar 10, 2004
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Mar 10, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 10, 2004
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 276 - 139 (Roll no. 54).
Mar 10, 2004
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mar 10, 2004
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Mar 10, 2004
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 339.
Mar 10, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Watt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr Watt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mar 10, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson-Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Lampson amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Ackerman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Ackerman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Ackerman amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Andrews amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Andrews demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Andrews amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Watt amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Sensenbrenner demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Scott (VA) amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sensenbrenner amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mar 10, 2004
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 339.
Mar 10, 2004
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 552 and Rule XVIII.
Mar 10, 2004
The Speaker designated the Honorable John Abney Culberson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Mar 10, 2004
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 339 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Mar 10, 2004
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 552. (consideration: CR H946-982; text of measure as reported in House: CR H953-954)
Mar 10, 2004
Rule H. Res. 552 passed House.
Mar 9, 2004
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 552 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 339 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Mar 5, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 248.
Mar 5, 2004
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-432.
Mar 4, 2004
Mr. DeLay asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Judiciary have until midnight on March 5 to file a report on H.R. 339. Agreed to without objection.
Jan 28, 2004
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jan 28, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 19, 2003
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 19, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law for purposes of hearing only (jurisdiction retained at Full Committee).
Jan 27, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 27, 2003
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 10, 2004 House · vote #54 On Passage Passed 276–139 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 10

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 9 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 478 – An amendment numbered 8 printed in the Congressional Record to strike the section of the bill that dismisses … Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 477 – An amendment numbered 10 printed in the Congressional Record to provide that the bill would not apply to civi… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 476 – An amendment numbered 9 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit lawsuits by a food manufacturer or se… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 475 – An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to provide that the bill would not apply civil ac… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 474 – An amendment numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to change the definition in the bill of a "manufa… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 473 – An amendment numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to permit civil actions against food manufacturer… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 472 – An amendment numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to permit civil liability suits to be brought in … Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 471 – An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record to apply the provisions of the bill only to cases… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 470 Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" An amendment numbered 6 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section which provides that the bill… Failed Mar 10, 2004
HAMDT 469 – An amendment numbered 5 printed in the Congressional Record to make technical and clarifying changes to the b… Agreed to Mar 10, 2004
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 Latest action March 26, 2004

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 463.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act - Shields the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of a food or non-alcoholic beverage product intended for human consumption from civil liability, relating to consumption of such products, in Federal or State court, unless the plaintiff proves that the product was not in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements at the time of sale.
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 552 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 339) to prevent frivolous lawsuits against the manufacturers, distributor…
  • S 1428 Commonsense Consumption Act of 2003
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 29
All 29 Republican 12
STENHOLM, CHARLES
· Mar 4, 2004
 R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Mar 1, 2004
Burns, Max
· Feb 25, 2004
JOHN, CHRISTOPHER
· Feb 11, 2004
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Oct 8, 2003
Toomey, Patrick
· Oct 8, 2003
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Oct 2, 2003
NETHERCUTT, GEORGE
· Sep 25, 2003
MCINNIS, SCOTT
· Sep 17, 2003
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Sep 16, 2003
Vitter, David
· Sep 16, 2003
LUCAS, KEN
· Sep 9, 2003
BALLENGER, CASS
· Sep 4, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jul 14, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 18, 2003
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · May 1, 2003
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Apr 3, 2003
GOSS, PORTER
· Mar 25, 2003
TIAHRT, TODD
· Mar 25, 2003
BOEHNER, JOHN
· Mar 19, 2003
DeMint, James
· Mar 19, 2003
Janklow, William
· Mar 18, 2003
Isakson, Johnny
· Feb 26, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Feb 5, 2003
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Feb 4, 2003
SCHROCK, EDWARD
· Feb 4, 2003
 R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Jan 28, 2003
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · Jan 28, 2003
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Jan 27, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 339: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-339/
MLA
"H.R. 339: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-339/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 339, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-339/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 339: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-339/)
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