US Congress House Bill 720 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 8)
Status: Engrossed on March 13 2017 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2017-03-13 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Pending: Senate Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX]	Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R-VA]	Rep. Ken Buck [R-CO]	Rep. Trent Franks [R-AZ]
Rep. Blake Farenthold [R-TX]	Rep. Steve Chabot [R-OH]	Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R-UT]	Rep. Pete Sessions [R-TX]

2017-03-10 - House - On agreeing to the Soto amendment (A001) H.Amdt.76 RC# 153 (Y: 181 N: 225 NV: 23 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2017-03-10 - House - On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment (A002) H.Amdt.77 RC# 154 (Y: 185 N: 225 NV: 19 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2017-03-10 - House - On agreeing to the Conyers amendment (A003) H.Amdt.78 RC# 155 (Y: 190 N: 227 NV: 12 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2017-03-10 - House - On agreeing to the Jeffries amendment (A004) H.Amdt.79 RC# 156 (Y: 189 N: 229 NV: 11 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2017-03-10 - House - On motion to recommit with instructions RC# 157 (Y: 186 N: 232 NV: 11 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2017-03-10 - House - On passage RC# 158 (Y: 230 N: 188 NV: 11 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-03-13	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2017-03-10	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-03-10	House	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)
2017-03-10	House	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).
2017-03-10	House	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
2017-03-10	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back with an amendment to add a section at the end of the bill prohibiting language to be construed to apply to a civil action that implicates the foreign emoluments clause of the United States Constitution.
2017-03-10	House	Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)
2017-03-10	House	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2017-03-10	House	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.79 On agreeing to the Jeffries amendment (A004) Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 229 (Roll no. 156).
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.78 On agreeing to the Conyers amendment (A003) Failed by recorded vote: 190 - 227 (Roll no. 155).
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.77 On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment (A002) Failed by recorded vote: 185 - 225 (Roll no. 154).
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.76 On agreeing to the Soto amendment (A001) Failed by recorded vote: 181 - 225 (Roll no. 153).
2017-03-10	House	UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
2017-03-10	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jeffries amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jeffries demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
2017-03-10	House	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jeffries Part A amendment No. 4.
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.79 Amendment (A004) offered by Mr. Jeffries. (consideration: CR H2035-2036, H2038; text: CR H2035)
2017-03-10	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
2017-03-10	House	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 3.
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.78 Amendment (A003) offered by Mr. Conyers. (consideration: CR H2033-2035, H2037-2038; text: CR H2033)
2017-03-10	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
2017-03-10	House	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 2.
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.77 Amendment (A002) offered by Ms. Jackson Lee. (consideration: CR H2031-2033, H2036-2037; text: CR H2031)
2017-03-10	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Soto amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Soto demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
2017-03-10	House	DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Part A amendment No. 1.
2017-03-10	House	H.Amdt.76 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Soto. (consideration: CR H2030-2031, H2036; text: CR H2030)
2017-03-10	House	GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 720.
2017-03-10	House	The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
2017-03-10	House	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XVIII.
2017-03-10	House	Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.
2017-03-10	House	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H2025-2041)
2017-02-24	House	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.
2017-02-24	House	Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.
2017-01-31	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
2017-01-30	House	Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2017-01-30	House	Introduced in House

HR180 (Related) 2017-03-09 - Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
SB237 (Same As) 2017-11-08 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/720/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr720/BILLS-115hr720ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr720/BILLS-115hr720rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr720/BILLS-115hr720eh.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017158
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017157
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017156
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017155
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017154
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017153