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H.R. 5546 116th Congress House

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

Official title: To regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 7, 2020 Introduced by: Hakeem S. Jeffries Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Correctional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal justice information and recordsDetention of personsEvidence and witnessesLawyers and legal services
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 22, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 21, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 21, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4577)
Sep 21, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 21, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5546.
Sep 21, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4576-4579)
Sep 21, 2020
Ms. Scanlon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Sep 16, 2020
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-507.
Sep 16, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 407.
Feb 12, 2020
Ordered to be Reported.
Feb 12, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 11, 2020
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
Jan 28, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jan 7, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 22, 2020

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from monitoring the contents of a privileged electronic communication between an incarcerated person and his or her legal representative.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 546 Reintroduced Bill Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act
  • HR 6800 The Heroes Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 24
All 24 Democratic 7 Republican 6
Blumenauer, Earl
· May 15, 2020
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 10, 2020
Cicilline, David
· Feb 10, 2020
 D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Feb 10, 2020
Jackson Lee, Sheila
· Feb 10, 2020
 R
Johnson, Dusty
South Dakota · Feb 10, 2020
Richmond, Cedric
· Feb 10, 2020
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 5, 2020
Rodgers, Cathy
· Feb 5, 2020
 R
Crenshaw, Dan
Texas · Feb 3, 2020
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Feb 3, 2020
Armstrong, Kelly
· Jan 30, 2020
 D
Neguse, Joe
Colorado · Jan 30, 2020
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Jan 28, 2020
 R
Cline, Ben
Virginia · Jan 24, 2020
Eshoo, Anna
· Jan 24, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jan 21, 2020
 R
Wagner, Ann
Missouri · Jan 21, 2020
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Jan 10, 2020
Taylor, Van
· Jan 10, 2020
Bass, Karen
· Jan 9, 2020
SENSENBRENNER, F.
· Jan 9, 2020
Collins, Doug
· Jan 7, 2020
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jan 7, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/
MLA
"H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5546, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5546: Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5546/)
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