SHIELD Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 28, 2016

Solidifying Habitual and Institutional Explanations of Liability and Defenses Act or the SHIELD Act

This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit guidelines or general statements of policy issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from: (1) conferring rights upon any person, state, or locality; or (2) binding the FTC or any person, state, or locality to a recommended approach.

In enforcement actions, the FTC must prove a violation of a law enforced by the FTC. The FTC's enforcement actions or consent orders may not be based solely on allegations that acts or practices are inconsistent with guidelines or general policy statements unless the acts or practices violate FTC-enforced law.

Compliance with guidelines or general statements of policy may be used as evidence of compliance with a law under which the guidelines or statements were issued.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4] · R–KS

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Apr 29, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Apr 28, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 28, 2016
Introduced in House
Apr 28, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in House · Apr 28, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5118 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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Discuss H.R.5118, 114th Congress: SHIELD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5118

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5118/BILLS-114hr5118ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-06T19:22:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5118 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5118 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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Discuss H.R.5118, 114th Congress: SHIELD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5118

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5118/BILLS-114hr5118ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-06T19:22:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5118 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5118 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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Discuss H.R.5118, 114th Congress: SHIELD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5118

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5118/BILLS-114hr5118ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-06T19:22:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5118 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5118 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

Discuss H.R.5118, 114th Congress: SHIELD Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5118

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5118/BILLS-114hr5118ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-06T19:22:26Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5118 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.