PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.1509 / 108th Congress

To make clear that a person who voluntarily separates from the Federal civil service does not remain subject to the enforcement provisions of subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 31, 2003

Prohibits any Federal employee or individual who voluntarily separates from the civil service, including by transferring to an international organization under certain circumstances, from being subject to enforcement provisions of the Hatch Act (prohibits Federal employees from engaging in specified political activities). Makes such prohibition applicable to any complaint filed with or pending before the Merit Systems Protection Board.States that certain proposed authorities for the Office of Special Counsel to disclose information to the news media and the public shall not constitute a routine use of records maintained by such Office.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11] · R–VA

Committees

  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E627)

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1509 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1509 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1509 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1509 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources