This resolution establishes the expedited procedural rules for the House to consider three bills related to law enforcement safety, officer concealed carry, and the purchase of retired service weapons.
Chip Roy
Representative
TX-21
This resolution establishes the rules for the House of Representatives to consider three specific bills related to law enforcement. These bills focus on requiring reports on attacks against officers, improving concealed carry laws for law enforcement, and allowing federal officers to purchase retired service weapons. The resolution streamlines the debate process, waiving certain procedural hurdles to allow for quick consideration and votes on these measures.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 220 | 216 | 0 | 4 |
Democrat | 213 | 0 | 203 | 10 |
House Rules Set One-Hour Debate Limit to Fast-Track Three Law Enforcement Bills
This resolution is purely procedural—it’s the legislative equivalent of setting the agenda and the timer for a meeting. It dictates exactly how the House of Representatives will handle three specific bills focused on law enforcement, effectively hitting the fast-forward button on their journey to a final vote.
The core function of this resolution is to waive nearly all the typical procedural hurdles (known as “points of order”) that could slow down or stop the bills from reaching the floor. Once this resolution passes, the House will immediately consider three items: a bill requiring the Attorney General to report on violent attacks against officers (H.R. 2240), an update to the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) regarding concealed carry (H.R. 2243), and a bill allowing federal officers to buy their retired service weapons (H.R. 2255).
The Rules of the Road: Why Procedure Matters
For regular folks, the rules of Congress might seem like bureaucratic noise, but they directly impact the final product. By waiving all points of order, this resolution clears the path for these three bills, meaning any potential procedural flaws or conflicts with House rules are simply ignored for the sake of speed. This kind of move is common, but it does mean less scrutiny on the fine print before the bills hit the floor.
Crucially, the resolution limits debate on each bill to just one hour, split evenly between the majority and minority leadership on the Judiciary Committee. Think of it as a hard stop: one hour to discuss bills that affect everything from national crime data to who gets to carry a concealed weapon. This tight timeframe means deep analysis and extensive debate are off the table, prioritizing quick action over lengthy deliberation.
Pre-Approved Changes and Limited Input
Another major procedural shortcut involves amendments. The resolution dictates that any substitute amendment prepared by the Judiciary Committee and printed in the bill is automatically considered adopted. This means when the bill hits the floor, it’s already in the form the Committee leadership wants, effectively shutting down the opportunity for other members to offer their own changes or amendments from the floor. For members who aren’t on the Judiciary Committee or those who wanted to tweak the policy, their chance to shape the legislation is severely restricted.
The only remaining procedural step allowed before the final vote is one motion to send the bill back to committee. After that, it’s a straight shot to the final vote on passage. While this streamlined process ensures these law enforcement bills get considered quickly, it also concentrates power in the hands of the committee leadership and limits the ability of the broader House membership to scrutinize or modify the legislation.