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S 1377 113th Congress Senate

Citizen Empowerment Act

Official title: A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to establish certain procedures for conducting in-person or telephonic interactions by executive branch employees with individuals, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 25, 2013 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnesses
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsTax administration and collection, taxpayersTelephone and wireless communication
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 25, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 25, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 25, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Citizen Empowerment Act - Requires any executive agency employee who is conducting an in-person or a telephonic interview, audit, investigation, inspection, or other official interaction with an individual relating to a possible violation of federal law that could result in the imposition of civil or criminal fines or penalties or the collection of unpaid tax to allow such individual to make an audio recording of the interaction.

Permits the employee conducting the interaction to record it if the employee: (1) informs the individual of the recording prior to or at the initiation of the interaction, and (2) provides the individual with a transcript of the recording at such individual's expense.

Requires the employee conducting an initial in-person or telephonic interview or other interaction to provide to the individual a verbal or written notice of such individual's rights.

Exempts from the application of this Act any in-person or telephonic interview or other interaction that: (1) is likely to include the discussion of classified material or information that would endanger public safety if released publicly; or (2) if released, would endanger an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by a federal law enforcement officer.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1377: Citizen Empowerment Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1377/
MLA
"S. 1377: Citizen Empowerment Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1377/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1377, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1377/.
Markdown link
[S. 1377: Citizen Empowerment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1377/)
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