Slamming Protection Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 31, 1997

Slamming Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prescribe criminal penalties for the willful and unlawful execution of changes in a subscriber's selection of a telephone exchange or toll service provider. Authorizes affected subscribers to bring actions for an order to revoke the change and for the award of damages. Permits States to bring civil actions on behalf of residents to enjoin unlawful change practices and to recover damages equal to the actual monetary loss suffered by such residents. Authorizes the court to increase damage awards by up to three times the maximum allowable award for willful and knowing violations. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction over such civil actions. Provides for declaratory and injunctive relief with respect to such actions. Grants the Federal Communications Commission the right to intervene in actions. Limits total damages awarded in class actions brought under this Act to three times the total actual damages suffered by members of the class.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] · D–IL

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jul 31, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Jul 31, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8602-8603)
Jul 31, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Jul 31, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

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: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1137 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 S.1137, 105th Congress: Slamming Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1137

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1137/BILLS-105s1137is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:09Z. 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 S.1137 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 S.1137 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 S.1137, 105th Congress: Slamming Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1137

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1137/BILLS-105s1137is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:09Z. 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 S.1137 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 S.1137 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 S.1137, 105th Congress: Slamming Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1137

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1137/BILLS-105s1137is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:09Z. 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 S.1137 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 S.1137 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 S.1137, 105th Congress: Slamming Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1137

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1137/BILLS-105s1137is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:09Z. 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 S.1137 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.