STOP Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 5, 2011

Stand by your Oil Pollution Act or the STOP Act - Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to: (1) extend liability to any corporation, partnership, or other person (other than an individual) having an ownership interest exceeding 25% in any responsible party; and (2) limit such an entity's liability with respect to an incident (any occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin, involving vessels and facilities, resulting in the discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil) to no more than the percentage of the entity's aggregate ownership interests in all other responsible parties with respect to such incident.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] · D–VA

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

2 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.

Jan 6, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Jan 5, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jan 5, 2011
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 2011
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 · Jan 5, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

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 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.54 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.54, 112th Congress: STOP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr54/BILLS-112hr54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:28Z. 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.54 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.54 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

Discuss H.R.54, 112th Congress: STOP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr54/BILLS-112hr54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:28Z. 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.54 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.54 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

Discuss H.R.54, 112th Congress: STOP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr54/BILLS-112hr54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:28Z. 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.54 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.54 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.54, 112th Congress: STOP Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr54/BILLS-112hr54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:28Z. 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.54 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.