False Statements Accountability Act of 1996
PL 104-292 (H.R.3166), enacted 10/11/1996

PUBLIC LAW 104-292—OCT. 11, 1996 
110 STAT. 3459 
Public Law 104-292 
104th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the crime of false statement 
Oct. 11, 1996 
in a Government matter. 
[H.R. 3166] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
False Statements 
Accoimtability 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Act of 1996. 
18 u s e 1001 
This Act may be cited as the "False Statements Accountability note. 
Act of 1996". 
SEC. 2. RESTORING FALSE STATEMENTS PROfflBITION. 
Section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
*
*
§ 1001. Statements or entries generally 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, 
in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, 
or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, know-
ingly and willfully— 
"(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, 
or device a material fact; 
"(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fi*audulent 
statement or representation; or 
"(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing 
the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fi-audu-
lent statement or entry; 
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 
years, or both. 
"(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial 
proceeding, or that party's counsel, for statements, representations, 
writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a 
judge or magistrate in that proceeding. 
"(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the 
legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to— 
"(1) administrative matters, including a claim for pa5nnent, 
a matter related to the procurement of property or services, 
personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a 
document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted 
to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative 
branch; or 
"(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to 
the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or 
office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the 
House or Senate.". 
29-194 O - 96 - 13 : QL 3 Part 5 
110 STAT. 3460 
PUBLIC LAW 104-292—OCT. 11, 1996 
SEC. 3. CLARIFYING PROHIBITION ON OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS. 
Section 1515 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new sub-
section: 
"(b) As used in section 1505, the term 'corruptly' means acting 
with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, 
including making a false or misleading statement, or withholding, 
concealing, altering, or destroying a document or other informa-
tion.". 
SEC. 4. ENFORCING SENATE SUBPOENA. 
Section 1365(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
in the second sentence, by striking "Federal Government acting 
within his official capacity and inserting "executive branch of the 
Federal Government acting within his or her official capacity, except 
that this section shall apply if the refusal to comply is based 
on the assertion of a personal privilege or objection and is not 
based on a governmental privilege or objection the assertion of 
which has been authorized by the executive branch of the Federal 
Government". 
SEC. 5. COMPELLING TRUTHFUL TESTIMONY FROM 
IMMUNIZED 
WITNESS. 
Section 6005 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting "or ancillary to" after 
"any proceeding before"; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting "or ancillary 
to" after "a proceeding before" each place that term appears; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding a period at the end. 
Approved October 11, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3166 (S. 1734): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-680 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
July 16, 17, considered and passed House. 
July 25, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 26, House concurred in Senate amendments with an amendment. 
Sept. 27, Senate concurred in House amendment.