Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Thompson (CA)
Introduced
Summary
Expands background checks to most private firearm transfers. This bill would require unlicensed sellers to have a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer take possession of a firearm and run the federal background check before transferring it, while listing targeted exceptions.
Show full summary
- Families: Certain loans and bona fide gifts between specified family members would be exempt if the transferor has no reason to believe the recipient is prohibited from possessing firearms.
- Private sellers and dealers: Unlicensed sellers would need a licensee to take possession and process the transaction as dealer inventory so the existing background-check system applies.
- Licensed-dealer paperwork: Licensees would have to give buyers a written notice and get a signed certification on a form the Attorney General prescribes.
- Law enforcement and short-term use: The bill carves out exceptions for law enforcement, armed private security, military on duty, estate transfers, emergency transfers to prevent imminent harm, and temporary transfers at ranges or for hunting when the seller is present.
- Administration and state authority: It would require the Attorney General to provide forms in English and Spanish and affirms it does not authorize a national firearms registry and preserves state lawmaking on the same subject.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Background checks for most private gun sales
If enacted, most private gun transfers would need to go through a licensed dealer. The dealer would take the gun first, run the background check, give the buyer a required notice, and get a signed form. The Justice Department would provide these forms and notices in English and Spanish. If the sale falls through, the dealer could return the gun to the seller without it counting as a transfer. Penalties that apply to other background‑check violations would also apply here. These rules would start 180 days after enactment.
Exceptions for family, ranges, and emergencies
If enacted, some private transfers would not need a dealer. Gifts or loans within close family (like spouses, parents and children, siblings, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews, and grandparents and grandchildren) would be allowed if the giver has no reason to think the recipient is banned or will commit a crime. On‑duty law enforcement, armed security, and service members would be excepted. Temporary transfers to stop imminent harm, estate transfers after death, and Attorney General‑approved transfers would be allowed. Short‑term loans at a range, for legal hunting or fishing with required licenses, or while you stay with the owner would also be allowed. These exceptions would start 180 days after enactment.
No national gun registry allowed
If enacted, the bill would not allow a national gun registry. Agencies would be barred from creating one under this bill. This would take effect upon enactment.
States keep power on gun rules
If enacted, the bill would not block states from making their own gun laws on this topic. States could still pass and enforce their own rules. This would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Cosponsors
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
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Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
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Balint
VT • D
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Barragan
CA • D
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Beatty
OH • D
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Bell
MO • D
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Bera
CA • D
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Beyer
VA • D
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Bishop
GA • D
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Bonamici
OR • D
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Boyle (PA)
PA • D
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Brown
OH • D
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Brownley
CA • D
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Budzinski
IL • D
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Bynum
OR • D
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Carbajal
CA • D
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Carson
IN • D
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Carter (LA)
LA • D
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Casar
TX • D
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Case
HI • D
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Casten
IL • D
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Castor (FL)
FL • D
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Castro (TX)
TX • D
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Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
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Chu
CA • D
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Cisneros
CA • D
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Clark (MA)
MA • D
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Clarke (NY)
NY • D
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Cleaver
MO • D
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Clyburn
SC • D
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Conaway
NJ • D
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Correa
CA • D
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Costa
CA • D
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Courtney
CT • D
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Craig
MN • D
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Crockett
TX • D
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Crow
CO • D
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Davids (KS)
KS • D
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Davis (IL)
IL • D
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Dean (PA)
PA • D
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DeGette
CO • D
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DeLauro
CT • D
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DelBene
WA • D
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Deluzio
PA • D
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DeSaulnier
CA • D
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Dexter
OR • D
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Dingell
MI • D
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Doggett
TX • D
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Elfreth
MD • D
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Escobar
TX • D
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Espaillat
NY • D
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Evans (PA)
PA • D
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Fields
LA • D
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Fletcher
TX • D
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Foster
IL • D
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Frankel, Lois
FL • D
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Garcia (IL)
IL • D
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Gillen
NY • D
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Goldman (NY)
NY • D
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Gomez
CA • D
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Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
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Goodlander
NH • D
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Gottheimer
NJ • D
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Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
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Harder (CA)
CA • D
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Hayes
CT • D
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Himes
CT • D
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Horsford
NV • D
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Houlahan
PA • D
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Hoyer
MD • D
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Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
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Garcia (CA)
CA • D
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McGarvey
KY • D
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McGovern
MA • D
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McIver
NJ • D
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Meeks
NY • D
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Menendez
NJ • D
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Meng
NY • D
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Mfume
MD • D
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Min
CA • D
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Moore (WI)
WI • D
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Morelle
NY • D
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Morrison
MN • D
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Moskowitz
FL • D
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Moulton
MA • D
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Mrvan
IN • D
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Mullin
CA • D
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Nadler
NY • D
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Neal
MA • D
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Neguse
CO • D
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Norcross
NJ • D
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Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
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Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
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Olszewski
MD • D
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Omar
MN • D
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Pallone
NJ • D
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Panetta
CA • D
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Pappas
NH • D
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Pelosi
CA • D
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Peters
CA • D
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Pettersen
CO • D
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Pingree
ME • D
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Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
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Pocan
WI • D
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Pressley
MA • D
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Quigley
IL • D
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Ramirez
IL • D
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Raskin
MD • D
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Riley (NY)
NY • D
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Rivas
CA • D
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Ross
NC • D
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Ruiz
CA • D
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Ryan
NY • D
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Salinas
OR • D
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Sanchez
CA • D
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Scanlon
PA • D
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Schakowsky
IL • D
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Schneider
IL • D
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Scholten
MI • D
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Schrier
WA • D
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Scott (VA)
VA • D
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Scott, David
GA • D
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Sewell
AL • D
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Sherman
CA • D
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Sherrill
NJ • D
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Simon
CA • D
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Smith (WA)
WA • D
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Sorensen
IL • D
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Soto
FL • D
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Stansbury
NM • D
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Stanton
AZ • D
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Stevens
MI • D
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Strickland
WA • D
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Subramanyam
VA • D
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Suozzi
NY • D
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Huffman
CA • D
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Ivey
MD • D
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Jackson (IL)
IL • D
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Jacobs
CA • D
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Jayapal
WA • D
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Jeffries
NY • D
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Johnson (GA)
GA • D
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Johnson (TX)
TX • D
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Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
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Kaptur
OH • D
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Keating
MA • D
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Kelly (IL)
IL • D
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Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
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Khanna
CA • D
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Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
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Landsman
OH • D
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Larsen (WA)
WA • D
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Larson (CT)
CT • D
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Latimer
NY • D
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Lee (NV)
NV • D
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Lee (PA)
PA • D
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Leger Fernandez
NM • D
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Levin
CA • D
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Liccardo
CA • D
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Lieu
CA • D
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Lofgren
CA • D
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Lynch
MA • D
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Magaziner
RI • D
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Mannion
NY • D
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Matsui
CA • D
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McBath
GA • D
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McBride
DE • D
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McClain Delaney
MD • D
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McClellan
VA • D
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McCollum
MN • D
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McDonald Rivet
MI • D
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Vasquez
NM • D
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Velazquez
NY • D
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Veasey
TX • D
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Vindman
VA • D
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Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
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Waters
CA • D
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Watson Coleman
NJ • D
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Williams (GA)
GA • D
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Wilson (FL)
FL • D
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Cohen
TN • D
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Randall
WA • D
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Lawler
NY • R
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Pou
NJ • D
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Adams
NC • D
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Whitesides
CA • D
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Figures
AL • D
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Swalwell
CA • D
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Sykes
OH • D
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Takano
CA • D
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Thanedar
MI • D
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Thompson (MS)
MS • D
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Titus
NV • D
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Tlaib
MI • D
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Tokuda
HI • D
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Tonko
NY • D
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Torres (CA)
CA • D
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Torres (NY)
NY • D
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Trahan
MA • D
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Tran
CA • D
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Underwood
IL • D
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Vargas
CA • D
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Grijalva
AZ • D
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Walkinshaw
VA • D
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Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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