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HR5874119th Congress

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act

Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Keep firearm background checks and export licensing operational during federal funding lapses. This bill would treat specific firearm enforcement and licensing activities as emergency functions and classify the staff who run them as excepted employees.

Show full summary
  • Federal employees in the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System and the ATF Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services would be eligible to keep working during a lapse in appropriations.
  • People buying firearms and licensed dealers would face fewer interruptions because background checks that support ATF enforcement could continue to be processed.
  • Exporters and companies applying for firearm export licenses would continue to have applications processed by the Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security and the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Gun checks and exports continue in shutdowns

If enacted, gun background checks would keep running during a federal shutdown. The bill would treat this work as emergency, so staff could keep working. Covered work includes the FBI background check system and ATF enforcement programs and services. The Commerce Department and the State Department would keep processing firearm export licenses. This would apply only during a lapse in federal funding, and only to these listed operations.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Hunt

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Hageman

    WY • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Harris (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Collins

    GA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • DesJarlais

    TN • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Gooden

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Fitzgerald

    WI • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Feenstra

    IA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Jackson (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Downing

    MT • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Moore (WV)

    WV • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Biggs (SC)

    SC • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Fulcher

    ID • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]

    MD • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • McGuire

    VA • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Stauber

    MN • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Mann

    KS • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Pfluger

    TX • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Latta

    OH • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Miller (IL)

    IL • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/10/2025

  • Fedorchak

    ND • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Owens

    UT • R

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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