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S 238 114th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Congressional oversight Correctional facilities and imprisonment Crime prevention Department of Justice Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government studies and investigations Law enforcement officers Violent crime

Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015

Introduced: January 22, 2015 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 9, 2016
Became Public Law No: 114-133.
Mar 9, 2016
Signed by President.
Mar 1, 2016
Presented to President.
Feb 24, 2016
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 24, 2016
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H865-866)
Feb 24, 2016
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H865-866)
Feb 24, 2016
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 238.
Feb 24, 2016
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H865-869)
Feb 24, 2016
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jan 15, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Dec 16, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 16, 2015
Received in the House.
Dec 16, 2015
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 16, 2015
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8703-8704)
Dec 16, 2015
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8703-8704)
Dec 16, 2015
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8703-8704)
Dec 16, 2015
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8703-8704)
Jan 22, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 22, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to issue oleoresin capsicum spray (i.e., pepper spray) to officers and employees who respond to emergency situations at high-security, medium-security, and administrative facilities.

Officers and employees may use pepper spray to reduce violent acts by prisoners and visitors.

An officer of employee must complete a training course prior to receiving pepper spray and annually thereafter on its use. 

(Sec. 3) The Government Accountability Office must: (1) evaluate the effect of issuing pepper spray on reducing crime and violence in high-security, medium-security, and administrative facilities; (2) evaluate the advisability of issuing pepper spray at low- or minimum-security facilities; and (3) recommend safety improvements for BOP officers and employees.

What's happening now March 9, 2016

Became Public Law No: 114-133.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • S 467 Related bill CORRECTIONS Act
  • S 2123 Related bill Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015
  • HR 759 Related bill Corrections and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016
  • HR 472 Identical bill Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 4
R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · Sep 22, 2015
 R
Lankford, James
Oklahoma · Jul 21, 2015
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Jan 22, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 238: Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-238/
MLA
"S. 238: Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-238/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 238, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-238/.
Markdown link
[S. 238: Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-238/)
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