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HR 4180 111th Congress House

Honest and Open Testimony Act

Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to include the disclosure of sexual orientation by a member of the Armed Forces to a Member of Congress as a lawful and … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to include the disclosure of sexual orientation by a member of the Armed Forces to a Member of Congress as a lawful and protected communication and to prohibit retaliatory personnel actions against members of the Armed Forces who make such a disclosure in a Congressional hearing or who testify, for or against, the policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces.

Introduced: December 2, 2009 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Congressional oversightEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEvidence and witnessesMilitary personnel and dependentsSex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 8, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Dec 2, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Dec 2, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2866-2867)
Dec 2, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 8, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Honest and Open Testimony Act - Includes within communications by a member of the Armed Forces that are protected from retaliatory personnel actions any testimony provided in a congressional hearing regarding the disclosure of sexual orientation, including that the member is homosexual, bisexual, or transgender.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 9
All 9 Democratic 8
D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Dec 10, 2009
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Dec 10, 2009
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Dec 2, 2009
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Dec 2, 2009
Hall, John
· Dec 2, 2009
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Dec 2, 2009
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Dec 2, 2009
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Dec 2, 2009
 D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Dec 2, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4180: Honest and Open Testimony Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-4180/
MLA
"H.R. 4180: Honest and Open Testimony Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-4180/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4180, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-4180/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4180: Honest and Open Testimony Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-4180/)
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