Skip to main content
HR 3496 97th Congress House

Sales Representatives Protection Act

Official title: A bill to correct inequities in the relationship between sales representatives and their principals, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 7, 1981 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Business and commerceCivil actions and liabilityCommerceContracts
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Courts and Civil ProcedureEmployee rightsSales personnel
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 9, 1982
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 23, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 11, 1981
Referred to Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism.
May 7, 1981
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 7, 1981
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action December 9, 1982

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Sales Representatives Protection Act - Title I: Contracts Between Sales Representatives and Principals - Requires a principal who enters into a contract with a sales representative for the solicitation of orders for merchandise of the principal to furnish specified information to the representative, including monthly commission statements.

Enumerates items to be included in any written contract between a principal and sales representative in order to conform with this Act.

Title II: Indemnification - Exempts principals who have entered into a written contract in conformity with title I from the indemnification requirements of this title.

Requires any principal to indemnify a sales representative in accordance with this title if such principal: (1) without good cause terminates a representative's assignment or reduces the geographical territory assigned to a representative; (2) reduces the rate of commission paid to a representative; or (3) reduces the number of accounts assigned within a geographical territory.

Sets forth a formula for the indemnification of such representatives.

Title III: Miscellaneous - Permits actions to be brought in Federal district court to enforce the rights or liabilities of this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1399 Identical bill Sales Representatives Protection Act
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3 Republican 1
D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Jul 23, 1981
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · May 7, 1981
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · May 7, 1981
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · May 7, 1981
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3496: Sales Representatives Protection Act. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-3496/
MLA
"H.R. 3496: Sales Representatives Protection Act." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-3496/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3496, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-3496/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3496: Sales Representatives Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-3496/)
Report a problem