H.R. 5525End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

1 recorded action126 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Austin Scott [R-GA-08]
Cosponsors: 6 · 6 Republicans
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Committee: Energy and Commerce Committee
Latest action: Jun 21, 2016 · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 207 - 143 (Roll no. 334).

IntroducedJun 16, 2016
Failed in the HouseJun 21, 2016
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

This bill prohibits a provider of commercial mobile service or commercial mobile data service from receiving universal service support under the Communications Act of 1934 through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Lifeline program, which provides subsidies for discounts on monthly telephone or broadband service (e.g., Internet service on mobile phones) to qualifying low-income consumers.

The FCC must continue to collect universal service contributions from telecommunications carriers through 2017 based on mobile service support provided in 2016 despite the bill's prohibition on Lifeline universal service support for mobile services. But the amounts collected for mobile services must be deposited in the Treasury for deficit reduction instead of being distributed for universal service support.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 5525 as introduced in House on Jun 16, 2016. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 334

House Jun 21, 2016

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act of 2016

Failed · Two-thirds required

207 Yea 143 Nay 84 not voting

Party-line vote 8 of 350 voting members broke with their own party: 1 Democrat, 7 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members434 members

Democratic188 members

Republican246 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors6 · 6 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 5525 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

RPete Sessions [R-TX-32]Original2026 profile

RRick W. Allen [R-GA-12]Joined Jun 21, 20162026 profile

RDave Brat [R-VA-07]Joined Jun 21, 2016

RLouie Gohmert [R-TX-01]Joined Jun 21, 2016

RMick Mulvaney [R-SC-05]Joined Jun 21, 2016

RBrad Wenstrup [R-OH-02]Joined Jun 21, 2016

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 55259 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 5525 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

TRACFONE WIRELESS, INC.filed by TRACFONE WIRELESS, INC., WILEY REIN LLP

Telecommunications5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Agriculture · Unemployment · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace +38 more4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Competitive Carriers Association PAC

Telecommunications3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATIONfiled by CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION, MINTZ LEVIN COHN FERRIS GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C.Its PAC: Ctia - the Wireless Association PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations · Transportation · Telecommunications3 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2016Filing

NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Ncta - the Internet & Television Association PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Homeland Security · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Telecommunications +1 more3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

TRACFONE WIRELESSfiled by SC PARTNERS LLC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Telecommunications3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND

Telecommunications · Homeland Security · Indian/Native American Affairs · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

CTIA: THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATIONfiled by MERCURY STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: Ctia - the Wireless Association PAC

Telecommunications · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code2 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2016Filing

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: National Telecommunications Cooperative Association Rural Broadband PAC

Small Business · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Retirement · Telecommunications +3 more1 filing · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2016Filing

27 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.