Skip to main content
S 266 109th Congress Senate

Stop Government Propaganda Act

Official title: A bill to stop taxpayer funded Government propaganda.

Introduced: February 2, 2005 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics AppropriationsCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil actions and liabilityCongress
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Congressional investigationsDamagesDiscrimination in employmentDismissal of employeesEconomics and Public FinanceElection candidatesEvidence (Law)Federal officialsFines (Penalties)Government and the pressGovernment ethicsGovernment liabilityGovernment publicationsGovernment publicityGovernmental investigations
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
Feb 2, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S896-898)
Feb 2, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S895-896)
Feb 2, 2005
Introduced in Senate
 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.

 Latest action February 2, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S896-898)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Stop Government Propaganda Act - Imposes a civil penalty on a senior official of an Executive branch agency who authorizes or directs funds appropriated to such agency for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States.

Instructs the Attorney General to diligently investigate such a violation, and if the Attorney General finds that a person has committed such a violation or is committing such a violation, authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action against that person.

Allows a private person to bring a civil action for such a violation for the person and for the U.S. Government in the name of the Government. Permits the dismissal of such an action only if the court and the Attorney General give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting. Prohibits any person other than the Government from intervening or bringing a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action.

Specifies the rights of the parties with regard to such an action. Allows the Government to elect to pursue its claim through any alternate remedy available to it.

Sets forth requirements for whistleblower protections.

States that the U.S. courts shall take cognizance and notice of any legal decision of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) interpreting the application of this Act.

Prohibits a point of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider legislation providing an appropriation for an agency that the GAO has found in violation of this Act, unless the appropriations for salary and expenses for the head of the relevant agency contains a provision reducing the salary of the head by an amount equal to the illegal expenditure.

 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. 266: Stop Government Propaganda Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-266/
MLA
"S. 266: Stop Government Propaganda Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-266/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 266, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-266/.
Markdown link
[S. 266: Stop Government Propaganda Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-266/)
Report a problem