# 116-hr-5395: Back the Blue Act of 2019

116-hr-5395, Back the Blue Act of 2019, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5395
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5395
- Congress: 116
- Title: Back the Blue Act of 2019
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- Introduced: 2019-12-11
- Sponsor: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Back the Blue Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criminal offenses for killing, assaulting, and fleeing to avoid prosecution for killing a judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer. Additionally, the bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, judge, prosecutor, or firefighter or other first responder; broadens the authority of federal law enforcement officers to carry firearms; limits federal court review of challenges to state court convictions for killing a public safety officer or judge; and limits the recovery of compensatory damages and prohibits the recovery of attorney's fees by an individual for a violation of rights that occurred as a result of (or in the course of) conduct that constitutes a felony or crime of violence. Finally, it directs the Department of Justice to make grants to law enforcement agencies and nongovernmental organizations to promote trust and improve relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] (R-LA), 2019-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] (R-OH), 2019-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] (R-OH), 2019-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] (R-CA), 2020-01-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-7278: JUSTICE Act
- 116-hr-6829: EMPIL–DOC Act
- 116-hr-4692: Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019
- 116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 116-hr-1865: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020
- 116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-5395 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5395)

## Related
- [116-hr-7278: JUSTICE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7278)
- [116-hr-6829: EMPIL–DOC Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6829)
- [116-hr-4692: Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4692)
- [116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4305)
- [116-hr-1865: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1865)
- [116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1830)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5395 (as of 2025-11-18).