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119-hr-404119th CongressWALLET

Hearing Protection Act

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

Introduced

Summary

This bill would reclassify firearm silencers under federal law by removing them from the National Firearms Act's definition of “firearm” and creating a parallel federal licensing and tax framework. It would also preempt state and local silencer taxes and require destruction of prior federal silencer records.

Show full summary
  • Owners and buyers: People acquiring or possessing silencers would be subject to a federal licensing and registration regime under Chapter 44 of Title 18, even as silencers are taken out of the NFA firearm definition.
  • State and local governments: Would be barred from imposing taxes, special registration, marking, or recordkeeping on silencers beyond ordinary sales or use taxes.
  • Records and industry rules: Would require destruction of existing silencer entries in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record within 365 days, mandate serial-number marking on silencers, and add a 10 percent federal excise tax on silencers sold by manufacturers or importers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Easier federal process for silencers

The bill would remove silencers from the National Firearms Act list. If you get or have a silencer under federal chapter 44 rules, you would be treated as meeting NFA registration rules. The Attorney General would have to destroy listed silencer registrations and related applications within 365 days after enactment. The removal would apply starting in calendar quarters that begin more than 90 days after enactment.

10% excise tax for silencer makers

The bill would add a 10% federal excise tax to firearm silencers and mufflers. It would apply when a manufacturer, producer, or importer sells one. It would start for calendar quarters that begin more than 90 days after enactment. Makers could pass this cost to buyers, so retail prices could rise.

Marking rules and state preemption for silencers

The bill would set new federal definitions for firearm silencers and mufflers. Licensed makers and importers would need to engrave a serial number on the outer tube or main housing. If that is not practical, they could request a variance, and the Attorney General would grant it unless there is good cause to deny. The bill would also block state or local taxes (other than normal sales or use taxes) and any special registration or record rules that single out silencers in interstate commerce.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

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

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

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

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

    IL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]

    MD • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/23/2025

  • Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2025

  • Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 2/26/2025

  • Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/26/2025

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/4/2025

  • Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

  • Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

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

    AK • R

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

  • Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/7/2025

  • Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/14/2025

  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/14/2025

  • Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

  • Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/6/2025

  • Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2025

  • Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 6/4/2025

  • Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 6/6/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/10/2025

  • Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 7/10/2025

  • Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 7/10/2025

  • Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

    SD • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 11/28/2025

  • Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 12/19/2025

  • Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/20/2026

  • Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2026

  • Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/30/2026

  • Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2026

  • Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/20/2026

  • Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 7/23/2026

  • Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 7/23/2026

  • Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

  • Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 8/24/2026

  • Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/1/2026

  • Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2026

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2026

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

    IL • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 9/15/2026

  • Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/15/2026

  • Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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