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H.R.3997 / 106th Congress

Money Return Act of 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 15, 2000

Money Return Act of 2000 - Title I: Responsibilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to mandate that registered issuers of securities exercise due diligence in delivering dividends, interest, and other valuable property rights to their owners.Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend the application of regulations governing the obligation of transfer agents to search for lost security holders to: (1) paying agents, including the obligation to use database searches; and (2) security holders who became lost security holders before a specified date. Prescribes notification procedures.Directs the SEC to establish a database accessible from the Internet with a listing of lost security holders and the issuers or paying agents obligated to deliver them their dividends, interest, and other valuable property rights.Requires that issuers or paying agents hold in trust the amounts to which security holders are entitled, including any accrued interest. Sets forth implementation guidelines.Title II: United States Money Return Commission - Establishes the United States Money Return Commission to: (1) collect and publish on the Internet and other media information on all money held by the United States that is owed to any person; (2) establish procedures for the use of state-of-the-art technology to restore such moneys to their rightful owners without charge; and (3) present an annual status report to the President.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Wilson, Heather [R-NM-1] · R–NM

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials.

  2. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  5. Introduced in House

  6. 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: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3997 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.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3997 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.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3997 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.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3997 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.

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