H.R.es405 - Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2240) to require the Attorney General to develop reports relating to violent attacks against law enforcement officers, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2243) to amend title 18, United States Code, to improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act and provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill…
Summary
H.Res. 405 is a resolution providing for the consideration of three bills in the House of Representatives: H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243, and H.R. 2255. The resolution waives points of order against the consideration of each bill and deems the Judiciary Committee's substitute amendments as adopted. It also sets the terms for debate and motions related to these bills.
The bills themselves address issues related to law enforcement. Specifically, they concern violent attacks against officers, improvements to the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, and the ability for federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service weapons.
This resolution streamlines the process for these bills to be debated and voted on in the House.
Expected Effects
If adopted, H.Res. 405 will allow the House to efficiently consider and potentially pass H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243, and H.R. 2255. The bills will be debated under specific time constraints, and amendments will be limited.
Passage of the underlying bills could lead to increased reporting on attacks against law enforcement, enhanced safety measures for officers, and a new avenue for officers to acquire retired service weapons. These changes would directly affect law enforcement agencies and officers nationwide.
The streamlined process could expedite legislative action on law enforcement matters.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced Law Enforcement Safety: H.R. 2243 aims to improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, potentially providing better protection for officers.
- Improved Data Collection: H.R. 2240 requires the Attorney General to develop reports on violent attacks against law enforcement officers, which could lead to better understanding and prevention of such attacks.
- Officer Morale: H.R. 2255 allows federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service weapons, which could boost morale and provide officers with affordable firearm options.
- Efficient Legislative Process: H.Res. 405 streamlines the consideration of these bills, potentially leading to quicker action on law enforcement-related issues.
- Support for Law Enforcement: The bills collectively demonstrate congressional support for law enforcement and address specific needs within the law enforcement community.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Limited Debate: The resolution limits debate time, which could prevent thorough consideration of all aspects of the bills.
- Waiver of Points of Order: Waiving points of order could bypass procedural safeguards and potentially lead to unintended consequences.
- Potential for Unintended Consequences: Expedited passage could lead to unforeseen negative impacts that were not fully vetted during the legislative process.
- Focus on Law Enforcement: The resolution prioritizes law enforcement-related issues, potentially at the expense of other pressing concerns.
- Potential Cost: The reporting requirements in H.R. 2240 and the weapon purchase program in H.R. 2255 could incur costs for the government.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution itself, H.Res. 405, is primarily procedural and aligns with the legislative powers granted to Congress under Article I, Section 5, which allows each house to determine the rules of its proceedings. The content of the underlying bills (H.R. 2240, H.R. 2243, and H.R. 2255) would need to be evaluated separately for their constitutional alignment.
H.R. 2243, which amends Title 18 regarding concealed weapons, could potentially intersect with the Second Amendment. However, the document does not provide enough detail to determine if it infringes upon the right to bear arms.
Overall, the resolution's alignment with the Constitution is primarily based on its adherence to legislative procedure.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).