Thin Blue Line Act
Sponsored By: Representative Buchanan
Introduced
Summary
Adds an aggravating factor for the federal death penalty to cover killings or targeting of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders when those acts occur during, because of, or on account of their official duties or status. It would let federal prosecutors treat such killings or attempts as an additional reason to seek capital punishment in qualifying cases.
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- Law enforcement officers: Killings or targeted attacks on officers while they are performing duties, because of their duties, or because of their status would be listed specifically as an aggravating factor in federal capital cases.
- Firefighters and other first responders: The same standard applies to firefighters and other first responders who are killed or targeted in connection with their official roles.
- Criminal defendants: Defendants accused of killing or attempting to kill these covered officials could face an increased risk of a death sentence because courts would consider this new aggravating factor at sentencing.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New death-penalty factor for killing first responders
If enacted, this bill would add a new factor in federal death-penalty cases. It would apply when someone kills or tries to kill a law officer, firefighter, or other first responder. It would cover attacks that happen while they are on duty, because of their duties, or because they are public employees. This could make a death sentence more likely in qualifying federal cases. It would not change state or local cases.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Buchanan
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
LA • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Hudson
NC • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 1/14/2025
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 1/22/2025
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 1/22/2025
LaHood
IL • R
Sponsored 1/23/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26]
FL • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]
KY • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Gonzales, Tony
TX • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov