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HR 1574 115th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Administrative remedies Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Civil actions and liability Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Licensing and registrations Political movements and philosophies Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017

Introduced: March 16, 2017 Introduced by: Luján, Ben Ray Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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
Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Mar 16, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 16, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using the viewpoints that a person broadcasts or otherwise disseminates on issues of public importance as a basis for: (1) revoking the person's licenses or authorizations; (2) taking action against the person; or (3) placing conditions on the FCC's approval of the assignment or transfer of a station license or construction permit or the construction, extension, acquisition, operation, or discontinuation of a communications line.

The bill also prohibits the President from directing an agency to take actions against a person, or to condition agency approvals, based on a person's broadcasted or disseminated viewpoints.

Nothing in this bill affects the authority of the FCC or the President to take action against violations concerning the broadcast of: (1) obscene or indecent language, fraudulent schemes, or lottery information; or (2) content constituting incitement under the First Amendment.

The FCC may continue to enforce broadcast requirements that: (1) permit candidates to federal elective office to purchase reasonable broadcast time, (2) allow equal broadcast opportunities for all candidates for public office, and (3) require disclosures of paid broadcasts.

The President may continue to direct agencies to take actions to execute the President's legal duties.

What's happening now March 17, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1574: Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1574/
MLA
"H.R. 1574: Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1574/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1574, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1574/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1574: Protecting Dissenting Viewpoints and Voices Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1574/)
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