119-hr1551

[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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