Legis Daily

PIRATE Act

USA116th CongressHR-583| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2020
Paul Tonko

Paul Tonko

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (9)
Peter T. King (Republican)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Bill Flores (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Susan W. Brooks (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Communications and Technology Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets. The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting. The FCC shall (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operation; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-5709
PIRATE Act
Jan 16, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Feb 25, 2019
Mr. Tonko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Feb 25, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2050-2052)
Feb 25, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 583.
Feb 25, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 26, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 9, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-1228
Held at the desk.
Jan 14, 2020
Presented to President.
Jan 24, 2020
Signed by President.
Jan 24, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-109.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-5709
    PIRATE Act


  • January 16, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • January 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • February 25, 2019
    Mr. Tonko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • February 25, 2019
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2050-2052)


  • February 25, 2019
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 583.


  • February 25, 2019
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2050)


  • February 25, 2019
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2050)


  • February 25, 2019
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 26, 2019
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S84)


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S84)


  • January 8, 2020
    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 9, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 9, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-1228
    Held at the desk.


  • January 14, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • January 24, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • January 24, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-109.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 116-1228: PIRATE Act
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesLicensing and registrations

PIRATE Act

USA116th CongressHR-583| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2020
Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or the PIRATE Act This bill addresses unlicensed radio broadcasting (called pirating), including by increasing to $2 million the maximum fine for a pirate radio broadcasting violation and imposing a fine of up to $100,000 per day for pirating violations subject to the $2 million limit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must (1) annually submit to Congress a report summarizing implementation of this bill and associated enforcement activities for the previous fiscal year; and (2) at least once a year, assign appropriate enforcement personnel to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets. The FCC may not preempt any state or local law prohibiting pirate radio broadcasting. The FCC shall (1) revise its rules to require that, absent good cause, in any case alleging a violation, it shall proceed directly to issue a Notice of Apparent Liability without first issuing a Notice of Unlicensed Operation; and (2) publish a database of all licensed radio stations operating in the AM and FM band that includes each licensed station and all entities that have received a Notice of Unlicensed Operation, Notice of Apparent Liability, or Forfeiture Order from the FCC.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-5709
PIRATE Act
Jan 16, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Feb 25, 2019
Mr. Tonko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Feb 25, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2050-2052)
Feb 25, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 583.
Feb 25, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2050)
Feb 25, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 26, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 8, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S84)
Jan 8, 2020
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 9, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 9, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-1228
Held at the desk.
Jan 14, 2020
Presented to President.
Jan 24, 2020
Signed by President.
Jan 24, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-109.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-5709
    PIRATE Act


  • January 16, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • January 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • February 25, 2019
    Mr. Tonko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • February 25, 2019
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2050-2052)


  • February 25, 2019
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 583.


  • February 25, 2019
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2050)


  • February 25, 2019
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2050)


  • February 25, 2019
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 26, 2019
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S84)


  • January 8, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S84)


  • January 8, 2020
    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 9, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 9, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-1228
    Held at the desk.


  • January 14, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • January 24, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • January 24, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-109.
Paul Tonko

Paul Tonko

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (9)
Peter T. King (Republican)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Bill Flores (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Susan W. Brooks (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Communications and Technology Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 116-1228: PIRATE Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesLicensing and registrations