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119-s-83119th Congress

Thin Blue Line Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Adds killing or targeting police, firefighters, and other first responders as a federal death-penalty aggravating factor. The bill would amend 18 U.S.C. § 3592(c) to add a new aggravating factor that applies when a defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized to prevent, detain, investigate, prosecute, incarcerate, apprehend, or arrest for criminal violations, or who is a firefighter or other first responder. It covers cases where the victim was killed or targeted while performing official duties, because of those duties, or because of their status as a public official or employee. This creates an additional basis prosecutors can cite when seeking the death penalty in federal cases.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Harsher federal sentences for attacks on officers

If enacted, prosecutors and federal judges could use a new aggravating factor in death-penalty cases. It would cover people authorized to do law enforcement, prosecution, incarceration, arrest, or first responder duties. The factor applies if the person was killed while on duty, because of their job, or for being a public employee. This would affect federal capital defendants and how courts weigh punishments. It would not change taxes or send money to households.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2025

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/10/2025

  • Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 7/30/2025

  • Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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