Bill Details
HR.1551 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-25 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced Date
2025-02-25
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Committees
View committees (1)
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (20)
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-New Jersey-5]
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-Minnesota-8]
- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-Maine-2]
- Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-Oklahoma-1]
- Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-Wisconsin-5]
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-New Jersey-4]
- Rep. Moore, Tim [R-North Carolina-14]
- Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-Florida-4]
- Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-North Carolina-6]
- Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-Nevada-2]
- Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-Texas-5]
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-California-22]
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-Pennsylvania-17]
- Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-North Carolina-5]
- Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-Mississippi-4]
- Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-Florida-18]
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-Nebraska-2]
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-Texas-11]
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-New York-1]
- Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-Alabama-3]
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would create a new federal crime for seriously injuring, or trying to seriously injure, a law enforcement officer because of their job. It says a person could face up to 10 years in prison for such an attack, and a longer sentence, including life in prison, if the officer dies or if the crime involves kidnapping, an attempted kidnapping, or an attempted murder. The bill is meant to give federal prosecutors another tool to go after violent attacks on police and other covered officers, especially in cases that cross state lines, use interstate commerce tools like weapons or travel, happen on federal property, or involve a federal law enforcement officer.
- It applies only when the injury is done on purpose and because the person is a law enforcement officer.
- Federal prosecution would generally require written approval from the Attorney General or a designee, unless the state asks the federal government to take over the case or the case is deemed necessary in the public interest.
- In deciding whether federal charges are needed, the Attorney General may look at factors like whether the crime was planned, how serious it was, the risk to human life, and whether federal action would improve public safety.
- The bill defines a law enforcement officer broadly to include government employees who prevent, detect, or investigate crimes, or who detain or imprison people for criminal violations.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1551 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1551
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses
targeting law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2025
Mr. Rutherford (for himself, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Golden of
Maine, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, and Mr. Fitzgerald) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses
targeting law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
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 ``Protect and Serve Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CRIMES TARGETING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers
``(a) In General.--Whoever, in any circumstance described in
subsection (b), willfully causes serious bodily injury to a person
because of that person's status as a law enforcement officer, or
attempts to do so--
``(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in
accordance with this title, or both; and
``(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for
life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--
``(A) death results from the offense; or
``(B) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt
to kidnap, or an attempt to kill.
``(b) Circumstances Described.--For purposes of subsection (a), the
circumstances described in this subsection are that--
``(1) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during
the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant
or the victim--
``(A) across a State line or national border; or
``(B) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality
of interstate or foreign commerce;
``(2) in connection with the conduct described in
subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, dangerous
weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that
has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce;
``(3) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs on
Federal property or in interference of Federal actors; and
``(4) the victim is a Federal law enforcement officer.
``(c) Certification Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--No prosecution of any offense described
in this section may be undertaken by the United States, except
under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, or
a designee, that--
``(A) the State has requested that the Federal
Government assume jurisdiction; or
``(B) a prosecution by the United States is in the
public interest and necessary to secure substantial
justice. To determine whether a prosecution meets this
standard, the Attorney General shall consider:
``(i) the verdict or sentence obtained
pursuant to State charges;
``(ii) the extent of planning and
premeditation;
``(iii) the intended outcome of the
conduct;
``(iv) disregard for human life, including
collateral damage to unintended victims; and
``(v) benefit to public safety from Federal
prosecution.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to limit the authority of Federal officers,
or a Federal grand jury, to investigate possible violations of
this section.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Law enforcement officer.--The term `law enforcement
officer' means an employee of a governmental or public agency
who is authorized by law--
``(A) to engage in or supervise the prevention,
detection, or the investigation of any criminal
violation of law; or
``(B) to engage in or supervise the detention or
the incarceration of any person for any criminal
violation of law.
``(2) State.--The term `State' means a State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers.''.
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