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HR 554 109th Congress House

Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005

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: February 2, 2005 See on congress.gov
Law AdvertisingAgriculture and FoodBeveragesCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
CommerceDamagesDiscovery (Law)District courtsEvidence (Law)Food industryFood safetyGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthInjunctionsJurisdictionObesityProducts liabilitySoft drink industryState courtsState lawsTrade associations
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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 32 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 21, 2005
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.
Oct 20, 2005
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Oct 19, 2005
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 19, 2005
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 306 - 120 (Roll no. 533).
Oct 19, 2005
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.
Oct 19, 2005
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H8939)
Oct 19, 2005
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 554.
Oct 19, 2005
UNFINSHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Oct 19, 2005
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Oct 19, 2005
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 449, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman amendment.
Oct 19, 2005
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - 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.
Oct 19, 2005
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 449, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment.
Oct 19, 2005
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Filner amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Filner demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Oct 19, 2005
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 449, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Filner amendment.
Oct 19, 2005
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - 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.
Oct 19, 2005
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 449, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment.
Oct 19, 2005
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 494, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sensenbrenner amendment.
Oct 19, 2005
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 554.
Oct 19, 2005
The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
Oct 19, 2005
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 494 and Rule XVIII.
Oct 19, 2005
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 554 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Oct 19, 2005
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 494. (consideration: CR H8925-8940; text of measure as reported in House: CR H8930-8931)
Oct 18, 2005
Rule H. Res. 494 passed House.
Oct 17, 2005
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 494 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 554 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Jun 14, 2005
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 75.
Jun 14, 2005
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-130.
May 25, 2005
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 8.
May 25, 2005
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 20, 2005
Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Discharged.
Mar 2, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Feb 2, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 2, 2005
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Oct 19, 2005 House · vote #533 On Passage Passed 306–120 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 5

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 4 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 595 – An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 109-249 to exempt lawsuits involving a dietary supplement rel… Failed Oct 19, 2005
HAMDT 594 Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 109-249 to exempt State law enforcement actions from the impa… Failed Oct 19, 2005
HAMDT 593 – An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 109-249 to exempt those who are age eight and under from the … Failed Oct 19, 2005
HAMDT 592 – An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 109-249 to prohibit the food industry from initiating lawsuit… Failed Oct 19, 2005
HAMDT 591 – An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 109-249 to make technical changes to the section of the bill … Agreed to Oct 19, 2005
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 Latest action October 21, 2005

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005 - Prohibits new and dismisses pending civil actions by any person against a manufacturer, marketer, distributor, advertiser, or seller of food or a trade association for any injury related to a person's accumulated acts of consumption of food and weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition, excluding actions alleging: (1) a breach of express contract or express warranty provided that the grounds of recovery are unrelated to a person's weight gain, obesity, or related health condition; (2) a knowing violation of a federal or state statute applicable to the marketing, advertisement, or labeling of food with intent for a person to rely on that violation, where such person relied on that violation, and where such reliance was the proximate cause of injury related to that person's weight gain, obesity, or related health condition; or (3) a violation brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Federal Trade Commission Act or by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Requires in any excluded action: (1) a stay of discovery during the pendency of any motion to dismiss, unless necessary to preserve evidence or to prevent undue prejudice; and (2) evidence preservation during the stay. Requires the complaint in such an action to plead with particularity for each defendant and cause of action: (1) each element of the cause of action and the specific facts alleged to satisfy each element of the cause of action; (2) the federal and state statutes that allegedly create the cause of action; and (3) the exception under this Act that is being relied upon and the specific facts that allegedly satisfy the requirements of that exception.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 908 Related bill Commonsense Consumption Act of 2005
  • HRES 494 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 554) to prevent legislative and regulatory functions from being usurped b…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 17
All 17 Republican 8
R
Issa, Darrell
California · Apr 21, 2005
HOEKSTRA, PETER
· Mar 8, 2005
Shuster, Bill
· Mar 8, 2005
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Mar 8, 2005
 R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Mar 2, 2005
Fortuno, Luis
· Feb 8, 2005
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Feb 2, 2005
BOEHNER, JOHN
· Feb 2, 2005
BROWN, HENRY
· Feb 2, 2005
Brown-Waite, Ginny
· Feb 2, 2005
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Feb 2, 2005
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Feb 2, 2005
HASTINGS, DOC
· Feb 2, 2005
Mack, Connie
· Feb 2, 2005
 R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Feb 2, 2005
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 2, 2005
STEARNS, CLIFF
· Feb 2, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 554: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-554/
MLA
"H.R. 554: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-554/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 554, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-554/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 554: Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-554/)
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