119-s1652

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1652 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1652

 To address gun violence, improve the availability of records to the 
 National Instant Criminal Background Check System, address mental 
 illness in the criminal justice system, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 7, 2025

Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To address gun violence, improve the availability of records to the 
 National Instant Criminal Background Check System, address mental 
 illness in the criminal justice system, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting 
Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 3. Reauthorization and improvements to NICS.

Sec. 4. Availability of records to NICS.

Sec. 5. Definitions relating to mental health.

Sec. 6. Conditions for considering certain persons as adjudicated 
 mentally incompetent for certain purposes.

Sec. 7. Reports and certifications to Congress.

Sec. 8. Increasing Federal prosecution of gun violence.

Sec. 9. Prosecution of felons and fugitives who attempt to illegally 
 purchase firearms.

Sec. 10. Limitation on operations by the Department of Justice.

Sec. 11. Increased penalties for lying and buying.

Sec. 12. Amendments to 

section 924.

Sec. 13. Study by the National Institute of Justice and National 
 Academy of Sciences on the causes of mass 
 shootings.

Sec. 14. Reports to Congress regarding ammunition purchases by Federal 
 agencies.

Sec. 15. Reduction of Byrne JAG funds for State failure to provide 
 mental health records to NICS.

Sec. 16. Firearm commerce modernization.

Sec. 17. Interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition.

Sec. 18. Preventing duplicative grants.

Sec. 19. Regional firearms trafficking task forces.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act--

    (1) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term in 
 

section 551 of title 5, United States Code;

    (2) the term ``covered firearms provision'' means 

section 922, 924, 932, or 933 of title 18, United States Code, or 
 

section 5861 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

    (3) the term ``NICS'' means the National Instant Criminal 
 Background Check System; and

    (4) the term ``relevant Federal records'' means any record 
 demonstrating that a person is prohibited from possessing or 
 receiving a firearm under subsection

    (g) or

    (n) of 

section 922 
 of title 18, United States Code.

SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO NICS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 103 of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act 
of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40913) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating subsections

    (e) ,

    (f) , and

    (g) as 
 subsections

    (f) ,

    (g) , and

    (h) , respectively;

    (2) by amending subsection

    (f) , as so redesignated, to read 
 as follows:
 ``

    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.''; and

    (3) by inserting after subsection
            (d) the following:
 ``

    (e) Accountability.--All grants awarded by the Attorney General 
under this section shall be subject to the following accountability 
provisions:
 ``

    (1) === Definition. ===
-In this subsection, the term `unresolved 
 audit finding' means a finding in the final audit report of the 
 Inspector General of the Department of Justice that the audited 
 grantee has utilized grant funds for an unauthorized 
 expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost that is not closed or 
 resolved within 12 months from the date when the final audit 
 report is issued.
 ``

    (2) Audits.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Beginning in the first fiscal 
 year beginning after the date of enactment of the 
 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second 
 Amendment Act of 2025, and in each fiscal year 
 thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of 
 Justice shall conduct audits of recipients of grants 
 under this section to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse 
 of funds by grantees.
 ``
        (B) Selection of grantees for audit.--The 
 Inspector General shall determine the appropriate 
 number of grantees to be audited each year.
 ``

    (3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
 Attorney General shall give priority to eligible applicants 
 that did not have an unresolved audit finding during the 3 
 fiscal years before submitting an application for a grant under 
 this section.''.

    (b) Modification of Eligibility Requirements.--The NICS Improvement 
Amendments Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40902 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 102

    (b)

    (1) (34 U.S.C. 40912

    (b)

    (1) )--
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``subparagraph
            (C) '' and inserting ``subparagraph
        (B) '';
        (B) by striking subparagraph
        (B) ; and
            (C) by redesignating subparagraph
            (C) as 
 subparagraph
        (B) ;

    (2) in 

section 103 (34 U.S.C. 40913)--
        (A) in subsection

    (a)

    (1) , by striking ``and subject 
 to 

section 102

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) ''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (e)

    (2)
        (B)
            (ii) 
            (II) , by striking 
 ``

section 102

    (b)

    (1)
            (C) '' and inserting ``

section 102

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) ''; and

    (3) in 

section 104
            (d) (34 U.S.C. 40914
            (d) ), by striking 
 ``

section 102

    (b)

    (1)
            (C) '' and inserting ``

section 102

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) ''.

SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS TO NICS.

    (a) Guidance.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue guidance regarding--

    (1) the identification and sharing of relevant Federal 
 records; and

    (2) submission of the relevant Federal records to NICS.

    (b) Prioritization of Records.--Each agency that possesses relevant 
Federal records shall prioritize providing the relevant information 
contained in the relevant Federal records to NICS on a regular and 
ongoing basis in accordance with the guidance issued by the Attorney 
General under subsection

    (a) .
            (c) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the Attorney General 
issues guidance under subsection

    (a) , the head of each agency shall 
submit a report to the Attorney General that--

    (1) advises whether the agency possesses relevant Federal 
 records; and

    (2) describes the implementation plan of the agency for 
 making the relevant information contained in relevant Federal 
 records available to NICS in a manner consistent with 
 applicable law.
            (d) Determination of Relevance.--The Attorney General shall resolve 
any dispute regarding whether--

    (1) agency records are relevant Federal records; and

    (2) the relevant Federal records of an agency should be 
 made available to NICS.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

    (a) Title 18 

=== Definitions. ===
-Chapter 44 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended--

    (1) in 

section 921

    (a) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (39)
        (A) Subject to subparagraph
        (B) , the term `has been 
adjudicated mentally incompetent or has been committed to a psychiatric 
hospital', with respect to a person--
 ``
            (i) means the person is the subject of an order or 
 finding by a judicial officer, court, board, commission, or 
 other adjudicative body--
 ``
            (I) that was issued after--
 ``

    (aa) a hearing--
 ``

    (AA) of which the person received 
 actual notice; and
 ``

    (BB) at which the person had an 
 opportunity to participate with 
 counsel; or
 ``

    (bb) the person knowingly and 
 intelligently waived the opportunity for a 
 hearing--
 ``

    (AA) of which the person received 
 actual notice; and
 ``

    (BB) at which the person would 
 have had an opportunity to participate 
 with counsel; and
 ``
            (II) that found that the person, as a result of 
 marked subnormal intelligence, mental impairment, or 
 mental illness--
 ``

    (aa) was a danger to himself or herself 
 or to others;
 ``

    (bb) was guilty but mentally ill in a 
 criminal case;
 ``
            (cc) was not guilty in a criminal case by 
 reason of insanity or mental disease or defect;
 ``
            (dd) was incompetent to stand trial in a 
 criminal case;
 ``

    (ee) was not guilty only by reason of 
 lack of mental responsibility under 

section 850a of title 10 (article 50a of the Uniform 
 Code of Military Justice);
 ``

    (ff) required involuntary inpatient 
 treatment by a psychiatric hospital;
 ``

    (gg) required involuntary outpatient 
 treatment by a psychiatric hospital based on a 
 finding that the person is a danger to himself 
 or herself or to others; or
 ``

    (hh) required involuntary commitment to a 
 psychiatric hospital for any reason, including 
 drug use; and
 ``
            (ii) does not include--
 ``
            (I) a person who is in a psychiatric hospital for 
 observation; or
 ``
            (II) a voluntary admission to a psychiatric 
 hospital.
 ``
        (B) In this paragraph, the term `order or finding' does not 
include--
 ``
            (i) an order or finding that has expired or has been set 
 aside or expunged;
 ``
            (ii) an order or finding that is no longer applicable 
 because a judicial officer, court, board, commission, or other 
 adjudicative body has found that the person who is the subject 
 of the order or 

=== finding ===
-
 ``
            (I) does not present a danger to himself or to 
 others;
 ``
            (II) has been restored to sanity or cured of 
 mental disease or defect;
 ``
            (III) has been restored to competency; or
 ``
            (IV) no longer requires involuntary inpatient or 
 outpatient treatment by, or involuntary commitment to, 
 a psychiatric hospital; or
 ``
            (iii) an order or finding with respect to which the 
 person who is subject to the order or finding has been granted 
 relief from disabilities under 

section 925
            (c) or under a 
 program described in 

section 101
            (c) (2)
        (A) or 105 of the NICS 
 Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40911
            (c) (2)
        (A) , 
 40915).
 ``

    (40) The term `psychiatric hospital' includes a mental health 
facility, a mental hospital, a sanitarium, a psychiatric facility, and 
any other facility that provides diagnoses by licensed professionals of 
mental retardation or mental illness, including a psychiatric ward in a 
general hospital.''; and

    (2) in 

section 922--
        (A) in subsection
            (d) (4) --
            (i) by striking ``as a mental defective'' 
 and inserting ``mentally incompetent''; and
            (ii) by striking ``any mental institution'' 
 and inserting ``a psychiatric hospital'';
        (B) in subsection

    (g)

    (4) --
            (i) by striking ``as a mental defective or 
 who has'' and inserting ``mentally incompetent 
 or has''; and
            (ii) by striking ``mental institution'' and 
 inserting ``psychiatric hospital''; and
            (C) in subsection

    (s)

    (3)
        (B)
            (iv) --
            (i) by striking ``as a mental defective'' 
 and inserting ``mentally incompetent''; and
            (ii) by striking ``a mental institution'' 
 and inserting ``a psychiatric hospital''.

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The NICS Improvement 
Amendments Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40902 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``as a mental defective'' each place that 
 term appears and inserting ``mentally incompetent'';

    (2) by striking ``mental institution'' each place that term 
 appears and inserting ``psychiatric hospital''; and

    (3) in 

section 102
            (c) (3) (34 U.S.C. 40912
            (c) (3) )--
        (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``as a 
 mental defective or committed to a mental institution'' 
 and inserting ``mentally incompetent or committed to a 
 psychiatric hospital''; and
        (B) by striking ``mental institutions'' and 
 inserting ``psychiatric hospitals''.

SEC. 6. CONDITIONS FOR CONSIDERING CERTAIN PERSONS AS ADJUDICATED 
 MENTALLY INCOMPETENT FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 55 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``

Sec. 5511. Conditions for considering certain persons as adjudicated 
 mentally incompetent for certain purposes
 ``In any case arising out of the administration by the Secretary of 
laws and benefits under this title, a person who is mentally 
incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent, or experiencing an extended 
loss of consciousness shall not be considered adjudicated as mentally 
incompetent under subsection
            (d) (4) or

    (g)

    (4) of 

section 922 of title 
18 without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other 
judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a 
danger to himself or herself or others.''.

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 55 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``5511. Conditions for considering certain persons as adjudicated 
 mentally incompetent for certain 
 purposes.''.

SEC. 7. REPORTS AND CERTIFICATIONS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) NICS Reports.--Not later than October 1, 2026, and every year 
thereafter, the head of each agency that possesses relevant Federal 
records shall submit a report to Congress that includes--

    (1) a description of the relevant Federal records possessed 
 by the agency that can be shared with NICS in a manner 
 consistent with applicable law;

    (2) the number of relevant Federal records the agency 
 submitted to NICS during the reporting period;

    (3) efforts made to increase the percentage of relevant 
 Federal records possessed by the agency that are submitted to 
 NICS;

    (4) any obstacles to increasing the percentage of relevant 
 Federal records possessed by the agency that are submitted to 
 NICS;

    (5) measures put in place to provide notice and programs 
 for relief from disabilities as required under the NICS 
 Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40902 et seq.) if 
 the agency makes qualifying adjudications relating to the 
 mental health of an individual;

    (6) measures put in place to correct, modify, or remove 
 records available to NICS when the basis on which the records 
 were made available no longer applies; and

    (7) additional steps that will be taken during the 1-year 
 period after the submission of the report to improve the 
 processes by which relevant Federal records are--
        (A) identified;
        (B) made available to NICS; and
            (C) corrected, modified, or removed from NICS.

    (b) Certifications.--

    (1) In general.--The annual report requirement in 
 subsection

    (a) shall not apply to an agency that, as part of a 
 report required to be submitted under subsection

    (a) , provides 
 certification that the agency has--
        (A) made available to NICS relevant Federal records 
 that can be shared in a manner consistent with 
 applicable law;
        (B) a plan to make any relevant Federal records 
 available to NICS and a description of that plan; and
            (C) a plan to update, modify, or remove records 
 electronically from NICS not less than quarterly as 
 required by the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 
 (34 U.S.C. 40902 et seq.) and a description of that 
 plan.

    (2) Frequency.--Each agency that is not required to submit 
 annual reports under paragraph

    (1) shall submit an annual 
 certification to Congress attesting that the agency continues 
 to submit relevant Federal records to NICS and has corrected, 
 modified, or removed records available to NICS when the basis 
 on which the records were made available no longer applies.
            (c) Reports to Congress on Firearms Prosecutions.--

    (1) === Definition. ===
-In this subsection, the term ``covered 
 firearms case'' means a case presented to the Department of 
 Justice for review or prosecution, in which the objective facts 
 of the case provide probable cause to believe that there has 
 been a violation of a covered firearms provision.

    (2) Report to congress.--Not later than February 1, 2026, 
 and February 1 of every year thereafter through 2035, the 
 Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary 
 and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
 Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations 
 of the House of Representatives a report regarding covered 
 firearms cases during the fiscal year that ended on September 
 30 of the preceding year.

    (3) Subject of annual report.--Not later than 90 days after 
 the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall 
 require each component of the Department of Justice, including 
 each United States Attorney's Office, to furnish for the 
 purposes of the report described in paragraph

    (2) , information 
 relating to any covered firearms case.

    (4) Elements of annual report.--The reports submitted under 
 paragraph

    (2) shall include, for the fiscal year covered by the 
 report--
        (A) a list of the covered firearms cases in which a 
 decision has been made not to charge an individual with 
 a violation of a covered firearms provision, or any 
 other violation of Federal criminal law;
        (B) in any covered firearms case described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the reason that no charge was filed 
 under a covered firearms provision;
            (C) for each covered firearms case--
            (i) whether an indictment, information, or 
 other charge has been filed against any person 
 or whether the matter is pending;
            (ii) if an indictment, information, or 
 other charge has been filed, whether the 
 charging document contains 1 or more counts 
 alleging a violation of a covered firearms 
 provision;
            (iii) if a charging document was filed that 
 contains 1 or more counts alleging a violation 
 of a covered firearms provision, whether a plea 
 agreement of any kind has been entered into 
 with the individual charged in the case;
            (iv) if a plea agreement has been entered--
            (I) whether the plea agreement 
 required that the individual plead 
 guilty or enter a plea of nolo 
 contendere or otherwise caused a court 
 to enter a conviction against that 
 individual for a violation of a covered 
 firearms provision; and
            (II) if the plea agreement did not 
 require that the individual plead 
 guilty or enter a plea of nolo 
 contendere or otherwise cause a court 
 to enter a conviction against that 
 individual for a violation of a covered 
 firearms provision, the charges to 
 which that individual did plead guilty;
            (v) if a charging document was filed that 
 contains 1 or more counts alleging a violation 
 of a covered firearms provision, the result of 
 any trial of such charges (guilty, not guilty, 
 mistrial); and
            (vi) if a charging document was filed that 
 did not contain a count alleging a violation of 
 a covered firearms provision, the nature of the 
 other charges brought and the result of any 
 trial of such other charges as have been 
 brought (guilty, not guilty, mistrial);
            (D) the number of persons who attempted to purchase 
 a firearm but were denied because of a background check 
 conducted in accordance with 

section 922

    (t) of title 
 18, United States Code; and
        (E) the number of prosecutions conducted in 
 relation to persons described in subparagraph
            (D) .

SEC. 8. INCREASING FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF GUN VIOLENCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General shall establish in jurisdictions 
specified in subsection
            (c) a program that meets the requirements of 
subsection

    (b) , to be known as the Nationwide Project Exile Expansion.

    (b) Program Elements.--Each program established under subsection

    (a) shall, for the jurisdiction concerned--

    (1) provide for coordination with State and local law 
 enforcement officials in the identification of violations of a 
 covered firearms provision;

    (2) provide for the establishment of agreements with State 
 and local law enforcement officials for the referral for 
 investigation or prosecution by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
 Firearms and Explosives and the United States Attorney of 
 instances in which the State or local law enforcement officials 
 determine that there is probable cause to believe that a person 
 arrested by the officials has violated a covered firearms 
 provision;

    (3) provide for the establishment of multijurisdictional 
 task forces, coordinated by the Executive Office for United 
 States Attorneys to investigate and prosecute illegal straw 
 purchasing rings that purchase firearms in 1 jurisdiction and 
 transfer them to another;

    (4) require that the United States Attorney designate not 
 less than 1 Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute 
 violations of a covered firearms provision; and

    (5) ensure that each person referred to the United States 
 Attorney under paragraph

    (2) be charged with a violation of the 
 most serious covered firearms provision, consistent with the 
 act committed.
            (c) Covered Jurisdictions.--

    (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph

    (2) , the 
 jurisdictions specified in this subsection are--
        (A) the 10 jurisdictions with a population equal to 
 or greater than 100,000 persons that had the highest 
 total number of homicides according to the uniform 
 crime report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 
 the most recent year available;
        (B) the 5 jurisdictions with such a population, 
 other than the jurisdictions covered by paragraph

    (1) , 
 with the highest per capita rate of homicide according 
 to the uniform crime report of the Federal Bureau of 
 Investigation for the most recent year available; and
            (C) the 3 Tribal jurisdictions that have the 
 highest homicide crime rates, as determined by the 
 Attorney General.

    (2) Limitation.--The 15 jurisdictions described in 
 subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) shall not include any jurisdiction 
 other than those within the 50 States.
            (d) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General 
shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report 
containing the following information:

    (1) The number of individuals indicted for a violation of a 
 covered firearms provision during the preceding year as a 
 result of the program.

    (2) The increase or decrease in the number of individuals 
 indicted for a violation of a covered firearms provision during 
 the preceding year as a result of the program when compared 
 with the year before such preceding year.

    (3) The number of individuals held without bond in 
 anticipation of prosecution as a result of the program during 
 the preceding year.

    (4) To the extent the information is available, the average 
 length of prison sentence of the individuals convicted of a 
 violation of a covered firearms provision as a result of the 
 program.

    (5) The number of multijurisdictional task forces 
 established and the number of individuals arrested, indicted, 
 convicted or acquitted of charges for a violation of a covered 
 firearms provision.

    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--

    (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
 carry out the program under this section $15,000,000 for each 
 of fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028, which shall be used for 
 salaries and expenses of Assistant United States Attorneys and 
 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents.

    (2) Use of funds.--
        (A) Assistant united states attorneys.--The 
 Assistant United States Attorneys hired using amounts 
 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph

    (1) shall 
 prosecute violations of covered firearms provisions in 
 accordance with any agreement entered into under 
 subsection

    (b)

    (2) .
        (B) ATF agents.--The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
 Firearms and Explosives agents hired using amounts 
 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph

    (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, concentrate 
 their investigations on violations of covered firearms 
 provisions in accordance with any agreement entered 
 into under subsection

    (b)

    (2) , with an emphasis on 
 heightened enforcement and prosecution of straw 
 purchasers under 

section 932 or 933 of title 18, United 
 States Code.

SEC. 9. PROSECUTION OF FELONS AND FUGITIVES WHO ATTEMPT TO ILLEGALLY 
 PURCHASE FIREARMS.

    (a) Task Force.--

    (1) Establishment.--There is established a task force 
 within the Department of Justice, which shall be known as the 
 Felon and Fugitive Firearm Task Force (referred to in this 
 section as the ``Task Force''), to strengthen the efforts of 
 the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute cases of 
 convicted felons and fugitives from justice who illegally 
 attempt to purchase a firearm.

    (2) Membership.--The members of the Task Force shall be--
        (A) the Deputy Attorney General, who shall serve as 
 the Chairperson of the Task Force;
        (B) the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal 
 Division;
            (C) the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
 Firearms and Explosives;
            (D) the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
 Investigation; and
        (E) such other officers or employees of the 
 Department of Justice as the Attorney General may 
 designate.

    (3) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
        (A) provide direction for the investigation and 
 prosecution of cases of convicted felons and fugitives 
 from justice attempting to illegally purchase a 
 firearm; and
        (B) provide recommendations to the Attorney General 
 relating to--
            (i) the allocation and reallocation of 
 resources of the Department of Justice for 
 investigation and prosecution of cases of 
 convicted felons and fugitives from justice 
 attempting to illegally purchase a firearm;
            (ii) enhancing cooperation among agencies 
 and entities of the Federal Government in the 
 investigation and prosecution of cases of 
 convicted felons and fugitives from justice 
 attempting to illegally purchase a firearm;
            (iii) enhancing cooperation among Federal, 
 State, and local authorities responsible for 
 the investigation and prosecution of cases of 
 convicted felons and fugitives from justice 
 attempting to illegally purchase a firearm; and
            (iv) changes in rules, regulations, or 
 policy to improve the effective investigation 
 and prosecution of cases of convicted felons 
 and fugitives from justice attempting to 
 illegally purchase a firearm.

    (4) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet not less than 
 twice per year.

    (5) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate on the 
 date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

    (b) Authorization for Use of Funds.--

Section 524
            (c) (1) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
            (I) , by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in subparagraph
        (J)
            (ii) , by striking the period at the 
 end and inserting ``; and''; and

    (3) by inserting after subparagraph
        (J) and before the 
 flush text the following:
 ``
        (K) the investigation and prosecution of cases of 
 convicted felons and fugitives from justice who illegally 
 attempt to purchase a firearm, in accordance with the direction 
 provided under 

section 9 of the Protecting Communities and 
 Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2025, provided that--
 ``
            (i) not more than $10,000,000 shall be available 
 to the Attorney General for each of fiscal years 2026 
 through 2030 under this subparagraph; and
 ``
            (ii) not more than 5 percent of the amounts made 
 available under this subparagraph may be used for the 
 administrative costs of the task force established 
 under 

section 9 of the Protecting Communities and 
 Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2025.''.

SEC. 10. LIMITATION ON OPERATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

 The Department of Justice, and any of the law enforcement 
coordinate agencies of the Department of Justice, shall not conduct any 
operation where a Federal firearms licensee is directed, instructed, 
enticed, or otherwise encouraged by the Department of Justice to sell a 
firearm to an individual if the Department of Justice, or a coordinate 
agency, knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such an 
individual is purchasing on behalf of another for an illegal purpose 
unless the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, or the 
Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division personally reviews 
and approves the operation, in writing, and determines that the agency 
has prepared an operational plan that includes sufficient safeguards to 
prevent firearms from being transferred to third parties without law 
enforcement taking reasonable steps to lawfully interdict those 
firearms.

SEC. 11. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR LYING AND BUYING.

 

Section 924

    (a)

    (1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended in 
the undesignated matter following subparagraph
            (D) by striking ``five 
years'' and inserting the following: ``5 years (or, in the case of a 
violation under subparagraph
        (A) , not more than 10 years)''.

SEC. 12. AMENDMENT TO 

SECTION 924
        (A) .

 

Section 924

    (a)

    (8) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``
            (d) or

    (g) '' and inserting ``
            (d) ,

    (g) , or

    (n) ''.

SEC. 13. STUDY BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AND NATIONAL 
 ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ON THE CAUSES OF MASS SHOOTINGS.

    (a) In General.--

    (1) Study.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
 date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General 
 shall instruct the Director of the National Institute 
 of Justice, to conduct a peer-reviewed study to examine 
 various sources and causes of mass shootings including 
 psychological factors, the impact of violent video 
 games, and other factors.
        (B) Contract with the national academy of 
 sciences.--The Director shall enter into a contract 
 with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct this 
 study jointly with an independent panel of 5 experts 
 appointed by the Academy.

    (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
 the study required under paragraph

    (1) begins, the Director of 
 the National Institute of Justice shall submit to Congress a 
 report detailing the findings of the study.

    (b) Issues Examined.--The study conducted under subsection

    (a)

    (1) shall examine--

    (1) mental illness;

    (2) the availability of mental health and other resources 
 and strategies to help families detect and counter tendencies 
 toward violence;

    (3) the availability of mental health and other resources 
 at schools to help detect and counter tendencies of students 
 towards violence;

    (4) the extent to which perpetrators of mass shootings, 
 either alleged, convicted, deceased, or otherwise, played 
 violent or adult-themed video games and whether the 
 perpetrators of mass shootings discussed, played, or used 
 violent or adult-themed video games in preparation of or to 
 assist in carrying out their violent actions;

    (5) familial relationships, including the level of 
 involvement and awareness of parents;

    (6) exposure to bullying; and

    (7) the extent to which perpetrators of mass shootings were 
 acting in a ``copycat'' manner based upon previous violent 
 events.

SEC. 14. REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING AMMUNITION PURCHASES BY FEDERAL 
 AGENCIES.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of 
the Senate, and the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Judiciary, the 
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Oversight and 
Accountability of the House of Representatives, a report including--

    (1) details of all purchases of ammunition by each Federal 
 agency during the preceding year;

    (2) a summary of all purchases, solicitations, and 
 expenditures on ammunition by each Federal agency during the 
 preceding year;

    (3) a summary of all the rounds of ammunition expended by 
 each Federal agency and a current listing of stockpiled 
 ammunition for each Federal agency during the preceding year; 
 and

    (4) an estimate of ammunition needs and purchases for each 
 Federal agency for the next fiscal year.

SEC. 15. REDUCTION OF BYRNE JAG FUNDS FOR STATE FAILURE TO PROVIDE 
 MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS TO NICS.

 

Section 104

    (b) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (34 
U.S.C. 40914

    (b) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) ;

    (2) by redesignating paragraph

    (3) as paragraph

    (2) ;

    (3) in paragraph

    (2) , as so redesignated, by striking ``of 
 paragraph

    (2) '' and inserting ``of paragraph

    (1) ''; and

    (4) by inserting before paragraph

    (2) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (1) Reduction for failure to provide mental health 
 records.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--During the period beginning on 
 the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment 
 of the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second 
 Amendment Act of 2025 and ending on the day before the 
 date described in subparagraph
        (B) , the Attorney 
 General shall withhold 5 percent of the amount that 
 would otherwise be allocated to a State under 

section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
 Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10156) if the State does 
 not--
 ``
            (i) provide not less than 90 percent of 
 the records required to be provided under 
 sections 102 and 103; or
 ``
            (ii) have in effect a statute that--
 ``
            (I) requires the State to provide 
 the records required to be provided 
 under sections 102 and 103; and
 ``
            (II) implements a relief from 
 disabilities program in accordance with 
 

section 105.
 ``
        (B) Final implementation deadline.--Beginning on 
 the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of 
 the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second 
 Amendment Act of 2025, the Attorney General shall 
 withhold 10 percent of the amount that would otherwise 
 be allocated to a State under 

section 505 of title I of 
 the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
 (34 U.S.C. 10156) if the State does not have in effect 
 a statute described in subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) of this 
 paragraph.''.

SEC. 16. FIREARM COMMERCE MODERNIZATION.

    (a) Firearms Dispositions.--

Section 922

    (b)

    (3) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended--

    (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``located'' and inserting ``located or temporarily located''; 
 and

    (2) in subparagraph
        (A) --
        (A) by striking ``rifle or shotgun'' and inserting 
 ``firearm'';
        (B) by striking ``located'' and inserting ``located 
 or temporarily located''; and
            (C) by striking ``both such States'' and inserting 
 ``the State in which the transfer is conducted and the 
 State of residence of the transferee''.

    (b) Dealer Location.--

Section 923 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (j) --
        (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``, and such 
 location is in the State which is specified on the 
 license''; and
        (B) in the last sentence--
            (i) by inserting ``transfer,'' after 
 ``sell,''; and
            (ii) by striking ``Act,'' and all that 
 follows and inserting ``Act.''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (m) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the 
sale, transfer, delivery, or other disposition of a firearm or 
ammunition--
 ``

    (1) by a person licensed under this chapter to another 
 person so licensed, at any location in any State; or
 ``

    (2) by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or 
 licensed dealer to a person not licensed under this chapter, at 
 a temporary location described in subsection

    (j) in any 
 State.''.
            (c) Residence of United States Officers.--

Section 921 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by striking subsection

    (b) and inserting 
the following:
 ``

    (b) For purposes of this chapter:
 ``

    (1) A member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or a 
 spouse of such a member, is a resident of--
 ``
        (A) the State in which the member or spouse 
 maintains legal residence;
 ``
        (B) the State in which the permanent duty station 
 of the member is located; and
 ``
            (C) the State in which the member maintains a 
 place of abode from which the member commutes each day 
 to the permanent duty station of the member.
 ``

    (2) An officer or employee of the United States (other 
 than a member of the Armed Forces) who is stationed outside the 
 United States for a period of more than 1 year, and a spouse of 
 such an officer or employee, is a resident of the State in 
 which the person maintains legal residence.''.

SEC. 17. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION.

    (a) In General.--

Section 926A of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``

Sec. 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition
 ``

    (a) 

=== Definition. ===
-In this section, the term `transport' includes--
 ``

    (1) staying in temporary lodging overnight;
 ``

    (2) stopping for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, an 
 emergency, or medical treatment; and
 ``

    (3) any other activity incidental to the transport.
 ``

    (b) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any provision of any law 
(including a rule or regulation) of a State or any political 
subdivision thereof, a person who is not prohibited by this chapter 
from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm or 
ammunition shall be entitled to--
 ``

    (1) transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any 
 place where the person may lawfully possess, carry, or 
 transport the firearm to any other such place if, during the 
 transportation--
 ``
        (A) the firearm is unloaded; and
 ``
        (B)
            (i) if the transportation is by motor 
 vehicle--
 ``
            (I) the firearm is not directly 
 accessible from the passenger compartment of 
 the motor vehicle; or
 ``
            (II) if the motor vehicle is without a 
 compartment separate from the passenger 
 compartment, the firearm is--
 ``

    (aa) in a locked container other 
 than the glove compartment or console; 
 or
 ``

    (bb) secured by a secure gun 
 storage or safety device; or
 ``
            (ii) if the transportation is by other means, the 
 firearm is in a locked container or secured by a secure 
 gun storage or safety device; and
 ``

    (2) transport ammunition for any lawful purpose from any 
 place where the person may lawfully possess, carry, or 
 transport the ammunition, to any other such place if, during 
 the transportation--
 ``
        (A) the ammunition is not loaded into a firearm; 
 and
 ``
        (B)
            (i) if the transportation is by motor 
 vehicle--
 ``
            (I) the ammunition is not directly 
 accessible from the passenger compartment of 
 the motor vehicle; or
 ``
            (II) if the motor vehicle is without a 
 compartment separate from the passenger 
 compartment, the ammunition is in a locked 
 container other than the glove compartment or 
 console; or
 ``
            (ii) if the transportation is by other means, the 
 ammunition is in a locked container.
 ``
            (c) State Law.--
 ``

    (1) Arrest authority.--A person who is transporting a 
 firearm or ammunition may not be--
 ``
        (A) arrested for violation of any law or any rule 
 or regulation of a State, or any political subdivision 
 thereof, relating to the possession, transportation, or 
 carrying of firearms or ammunition, unless there is 
 probable cause to believe that the transportation is 
 not in accordance with subsection

    (b) ; or
 ``
        (B) detained for violation of any law or any rule 
 or regulation of a State, or any political subdivision 
 thereof, relating to the possession, transportation, or 
 carrying of firearms or ammunition, unless there is 
 reasonable suspicion that the transportation is not in 
 accordance with subsection

    (b) .
 ``

    (2) Prosecution.--
 ``
        (A) Burden of proof.--If a person asserts this 
 section as a defense in a criminal proceeding, the 
 government shall bear the burden of proving, beyond a 
 reasonable doubt, that the conduct of the person was 
 not in accordance with subsection

    (b) .
 ``
        (B) Prevailing defendant.--If a person 
 successfully asserts this section as a defense in a 
 criminal proceeding, the court shall award the 
 prevailing defendant reasonable attorney's fees.''.

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item relating to 

section 926A and inserting the following:

``926A. Interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition.''.

SEC. 18. PREVENTING DUPLICATIVE GRANTS.

 

Section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
 ``

    (q) Preventing Duplicative Grants.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Before the Attorney General awards a 
 grant to an applicant under this part, the Attorney General 
 shall compare potential grant awards with grants awarded under 
 part A or T to determine if duplicate grant awards are awarded 
 for the same purpose.
 ``

    (2) Report.--If the Attorney General awards duplicate 
 grants to the same applicant for the same purpose, the Attorney 
 General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
 Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
 Representatives a report that includes--
 ``
        (A) a list of all duplicate grants awarded, 
 including the total dollar amount of any duplicate 
 grants awarded; and
 ``
        (B) the reason the Attorney General awarded the 
 duplicate grants.''.

SEC. 19. REGIONAL FIREARMS TRAFFICKING TASK FORCES.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall establish or continue 
to maintain a firearms trafficking task force in each of the following 
field divisions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives:

    (1) The Houston Field Division.

    (2) The Phoenix Field Division.

    (3) The Dallas Field Division.

    (4) The Los Angeles Field Division.

    (b) Staffing.--Each firearms trafficking task force established or 
maintained under subsection

    (a) shall consist of no fewer than 12 
special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives.
            (c) Duties.--Each firearms trafficking task force established or 
maintained under subsection

    (a) shall investigate firearms trafficking, 
with an emphasis on detecting and investigating violations of sections 
932 and 933 of title 18, United States Code.
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