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H.R. 2856 114th Congress House

Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015

Official title: 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: June 24, 2015 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 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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
Jul 9, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Jun 23, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 23, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 9, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015

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 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2856: Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2856/
MLA
"H.R. 2856: Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2856/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2856, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2856/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2856: Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2856/)
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