To provide a private cause of action for exposure of personally identifiable information of victims or victims' personal or medical files or similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy in releasing documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Pramila Jayapal

Democrat · WA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-07-14

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would allow people whose private information is exposed when documents related to Jeffrey Epstein are released to sue for damages. It protects victims and others from having sensitive personal details, medical records, or other private files made public without their consent. The law recognizes that some information shouldn't be disclosed even when government documents are being made transparent, and gives people legal recourse if their privacy is violated.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9679 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9679 To provide a private cause of action for exposure of personally identifiable information of victims or victims' personal or medical files or similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy in releasing documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 14, 2026 Ms. Jayapal introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide a private cause of action for exposure of personally identifiable information of victims or victims' personal or medical files or similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy in releasing documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Recovery, Enforcement, and Damages to Assure Confidential Treatment Act'' or as the ``REDACT Act''. SEC. 2. PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION FOR EXPOSURE OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION OF VICTIMS OR VICTIMS' PERSONAL OR MEDICAL FILES OR SIMILAR FILES THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A CLEARLY UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY IN RELEASING DOCUMENTS UNDER THE EPSTEIN FILES TRANSPARENCY ACT. Section 2 of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38; 139 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Private Cause of Action.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Instance.--The term `instance', with respect to a violation of this section, means each discrete act constituting a violation of this section. ``(B) Violation of this section.--The term `violation of this section' means a failure, in releasing documents under this Act, to withhold or redact personally identifiable information of a victim or a personal or medical file of a victim or another similar file of a victim the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. ``(2) Cause of action.--Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation of this section was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any Federal department or agency. ``(3) Relief.-- ``(A) In general.--If a person prevails on a claim under this subsection, the court shall award-- ``(i) for each instance of a violation of this section, the greater of statutory damages of $50,000 or the amount of compensatory damages, including damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress; ``(ii) reasonable attorney's fees and costs of litigation; and ``(iii) such injunctive or declaratory relief as may be appropriate. ``(B) Preliminary relief.--Upon motion by a person bringing a claim under this subsection, a court may award such preliminary injunctive relief as the court determines appropriate with respect to the claim. ``(4) Waiver of sovereign immunity.--The United States expressly waives sovereign immunity with respect to actions brought under this subsection. ``(5) Period of limitations.--A civil action under this subsection may not be commenced later than-- ``(A) 5 years after the applicable person first obtains actual notice of the violation of this section; or ``(B) for a violation of this section with respect to which the applicable person first obtained actual notice of the violation of this section before the date of enactment of this subsection, 5 years after such date of enactment. ``(6) Applicability.--This subsection shall apply to any violation of this section occurring on or after November 19, 2025.''. <all>

• HR9581Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-02
• HR9549To amend title 10, United States Code, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, and the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 to repeal certain reporting requirements related to unfunded priorities, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-30
• HR9432LIFT the BAR Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-24
• HR8975All Students Count Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-21