HR404119th CongressWALLET

Hearing Protection Act

Sponsored By: Representative Cline

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.

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

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Pfluger

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Estes

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Moore (WV)

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Bean (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Tenney

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Weber (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Moore (AL)

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Nehls

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Owens

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Thompson (PA)

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Wittman

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Hudson

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Luna

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Cammack

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Carter (GA)

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Perry

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2025

  • Bost

    IL • R

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  • Bergman

    MI • R

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  • Finstad

    MN • R

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  • Collins

    GA • R

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  • Graves

    MO • R

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  • Fleischmann

    TN • R

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  • Fulcher

    ID • R

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  • Bilirakis

    FL • R

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  • McGuire

    VA • R

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  • Aderholt

    AL • R

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  • McDowell

    NC • R

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  • Harris (MD)

    MD • R

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  • Burchett

    TN • R

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  • Kustoff

    TN • R

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  • Timmons

    SC • R

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  • Loudermilk

    GA • R

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  • Crank

    CO • R

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  • Griffith

    VA • R

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  • Hern (OK)

    OK • R

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  • Womack

    AR • R

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  • Babin

    TX • R

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  • Maloy

    UT • R

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  • Comer

    KY • R

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  • Langworthy

    NY • R

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  • Issa

    CA • R

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  • Obernolte

    CA • R

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  • Norman

    SC • R

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  • Sessions

    TX • R

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  • Biggs (SC)

    SC • R

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  • Schmidt

    KS • R

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  • Green (TN)

    TN • R

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  • Zinke

    MT • R

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  • Boebert

    CO • R

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  • Hurd (CO)

    CO • R

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  • Jackson (TX)

    TX • R

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  • Alford

    MO • R

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  • Onder

    MO • R

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  • Strong

    AL • R

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  • Hageman

    WY • R

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  • Walberg

    MI • R

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  • Ogles

    TN • R

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  • Harrigan

    NC • R

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  • Simpson

    ID • R

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  • Gill (TX)

    TX • R

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  • Yakym

    IN • R

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  • Stutzman

    IN • R

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  • Hamadeh (AZ)

    AZ • R

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  • Begich

    AK • R

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  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

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  • Mann

    KS • R

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  • Steube

    FL • R

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  • Higgins (LA)

    LA • R

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  • Huizenga

    MI • R

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  • Tiffany

    WI • R

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  • Perez

    WA • D

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  • Williams (TX)

    TX • R

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  • Rulli

    OH • R

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  • Harshbarger

    TN • R

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  • Foxx

    NC • R

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  • Wied

    WI • R

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  • Rose

    TN • R

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  • Smith (NE)

    NE • R

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  • Downing

    MT • R

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  • Van Duyne

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Bice

    OK • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Latta

    OH • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Grothman

    WI • R

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  • Gooden

    TX • R

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  • McCormick

    GA • R

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  • Palmer

    AL • R

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  • Guest

    MS • R

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  • Barr

    KY • R

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  • Moore (NC)

    NC • R

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  • Fine

    FL • R

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  • Gonzales, Tony

    TX • R

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  • DesJarlais

    TN • R

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  • Knott

    NC • R

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  • Flood

    NE • R

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  • Feenstra

    IA • R

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  • Miller (OH)

    OH • R

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  • Hunt

    TX • R

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  • Wilson (SC)

    SC • R

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  • Harris (NC)

    NC • R

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  • Arrington

    TX • R

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  • Crenshaw

    TX • R

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  • Biggs (AZ)

    AZ • R

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  • Westerman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Stefanik

    NY • R

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  • Stauber

    MN • R

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  • Valadao

    CA • R

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  • Letlow

    LA • R

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  • Taylor

    OH • R

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  • Rogers (AL)

    AL • R

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  • Johnson (SD)

    SD • R

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  • Fischbach

    MN • R

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  • Baird

    IN • R

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  • Jack

    GA • R

    Sponsored 12/19/2025

  • Messmer

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Fitzgerald

    WI • R

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

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