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HR 5318 114th Congress House

SHIELD Act of 2016

Official title: To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to specify certain effects of guidelines, general statements of policy, and similar guidance issued by the Federal Trade Commission.

Introduced: May 24, 2016 See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustConsumer affairs
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Evidence and witnessesFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Intergovernmental relationsState and local government operations
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 24, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
May 24, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 24, 2016

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Solidifying Habitual and Institutional Explanations of Liability and Defenses Act of 2016 or the SHIELD Act of 2016

This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines or general statements of policy related either to unfair methods of competition, or to unfair or deceptive acts or practices, in or affecting commerce from: (1) conferring rights upon any person, state, or locality; or (2) binding the FTC or any person, state, or locality to a recommended approach.

In enforcement actions, the FTC must prove a violation of a law enforced by the FTC. The FTC's enforcement actions or consent orders may not be based solely on allegations that acts or practices are inconsistent with guidelines or general policy statements unless the acts or practices violate FTC-enforced law.

Compliance with guidelines or general statements of policy may be used as evidence of compliance with a law under which the guidelines or statements were issued.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 5118 Related bill SHIELD Act
  • HR 5510 Related bill FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act of 2016
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 1
Bishop, Mike
· May 24, 2016
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · May 24, 2016
Harper, Gregg
· May 24, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5318: SHIELD Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5318/
MLA
"H.R. 5318: SHIELD Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5318/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5318, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5318/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5318: SHIELD Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5318/)
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