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S 1747 109th Congress Senate Law Aviation safety Charitable contributions Civil actions and liability Damages Disaster relief Emergency Management Employers' liability Equipment and supplies Evidence (Law) Federal preemption Good samaritan laws Government Operations and Politics Government liability Hurricane aftermath legislation Judicial review Labor and Employment Liability (Law) Nonprofit organizations Punitive damages

GIVE Act of 2005

Introduced: September 21, 2005 Introduced by: Cornyn, John Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 21, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 21, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10301-10302)
Sep 21, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2005 (GIVE Act of 2005) - Exempts from liability for acts or omissions: (1) disaster relief volunteers; (2) employers or business partners of disaster relief volunteers; (3) hosts or enabling persons, entities, or organizations; and (4) governmental and intergovernmental entities for donations of disaster relief goods.

Specifies limits to punitive and non-economic damages for willful, knowing, or reckless misconduct based on the actions of disaster relief volunteers and governmental or intergovernmental donors.

Provides for: (1) judicial review of allegations; (2) supplemental disaster declarations by the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (3) state election for nonapplicability of a provision of this Act to certain civil actions in state court.

Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 with respect to liability protection for actions of volunteers generally.

Exempts persons from civil liability relating to any injury or death involving: (1) donations of equipment to nonprofit organizations; or (2) use of facilities, a motor vehicle or aircraft provided to nonprofit organizations.

Provides for judicial review of allegations

What's happening now September 21, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1747: GIVE Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1747/
MLA
"S. 1747: GIVE Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1747/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1747, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1747/.
Markdown link
[S. 1747: GIVE Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1747/)
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