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HR 4135 114th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Firearms and explosives Immigration status and procedures Travel and tourism Visas and passports

Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015

Introduced: November 30, 2015 Introduced by: Duckworth, Tammy Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 15, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Nov 30, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 30, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015

The bill amends the federal criminal code to modify the eligibility of certain foreign nationals to purchase and possess firearms in the United States.

Current law prohibits firearm sale or transfer to or possession by a foreign national (i.e., alien) who is: (1) unlawfully present in the United States, or (2) lawfully present under a nonimmigrant visa (e.g., tourist visa). The prohibitions do not apply in certain circumstances.

This bill expands the prohibition to bar firearm sale or transfer to or possession by a foreign national who was lawfully admitted to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.

The prohibitions do not apply to a foreign national lawfully admitted under the Visa Waiver Program if that foreign national is a government official or law enforcement officer, or possesses a hunting license. Additionally, such foreign national may apply for a Department of Justice waiver to allow firearm possession.

What's happening now January 15, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 2377 Related bill Defeat ISIS and Protect and Secure the United States Act of 2015
  • S 2323 Identical bill Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 13
D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Dec 17, 2015
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Dec 10, 2015
 D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Dec 9, 2015
 D
Frankel, Lois
Florida · Dec 8, 2015
 D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Dec 8, 2015
 D
Foster, Bill
Illinois · Dec 1, 2015
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Dec 1, 2015
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Nov 30, 2015
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Nov 30, 2015
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Nov 30, 2015
 D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Nov 30, 2015
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Nov 30, 2015
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Nov 30, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4135: Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4135/
MLA
"H.R. 4135: Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4135/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4135, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4135/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4135: Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4135/)
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