HRES405-119

What This Bill Does

This special rule packages three law-enforcement bills for House consideration under a common debate and recommit structure. This is a special House rule, not final enactment of the underlying policies. Its effect is to decide how the House may consider the named measures: it waives points of order, treats measures as read, sets debate time, identifies adopted committee or Rules Committee text, and preserves only the motions listed in the rule. The measures covered are H.R. 2240 requiring Attorney General reports on violent attacks against law enforcement officers, H.R. 2243 improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act concealed-carry provisions, and H.R. 2255 allowing federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service weapons. That procedural design matters because it can move controversial disapproval resolutions or policy bills to a final vote while limiting the ability to raise procedural objections or offer amendments.

Who Benefits and How

Supporters of law-enforcement attack reporting, retired and qualified law enforcement officers seeking concealed-carry protections, federal law enforcement officers seeking to purchase retired service weapons, and House Judiciary Committee leadership receive a procedural benefit. House majority leadership benefits because the rule converts the covered measures into a controlled floor package. The House Rules Committee benefits because its report and special-rule language define the operative text and amendment process. Committee chairs benefit when they control debate time for their committee's measures. Supporters of the underlying resolutions or bills benefit because the waiver and previous-question language reduce procedural friction.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Members seeking amendments outside the Judiciary Committee substitutes, opponents of expanded concealed-carry privileges, agencies managing retired service weapons, and Members opposing the covered bills bear procedural burdens. House Members seeking amendments bear a burden because amendments are barred or limited to the Rules Committee report. House minority leadership bears a burden because debate time is capped and the previous question prevents intervening motions except those named in the rule. Opponents of the covered measures lose some procedural tools because points of order against consideration and against provisions are waived. The House Clerk and floor staff must implement the timing, reading, amendment, and message instructions.

Key Provisions

• Provides consideration of H.R. 2240 with the Judiciary Committee substitute treated as adopted.
• Provides consideration of H.R. 2243 with the Judiciary Committee substitute treated as adopted.
• Provides consideration of H.R. 2255 with the Judiciary Committee substitute treated as adopted.
• Waives points of order against consideration and provisions for each law-enforcement bill.
• Limits each bill to one hour of Judiciary Committee debate and one motion to recommit.