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HR 115 115th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Crime victims Criminal procedure and sentencing Emergency medical services and trauma care Fires First responders and emergency personnel Health personnel Law enforcement officers Violent crime

Thin Blue Line Act

Introduced: February 9, 2017 Introduced by: Buchanan, Vern Republican · Florida See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 22, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 18, 2017
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 323. (consideration: CR H4332-4340)
May 18, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 18, 2017
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 271 - 143 (Roll no. 265). (text: CR H4333)
May 18, 2017
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4341)
May 18, 2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 115, the Chair put the question on passage and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on passage of the bill until later in the legislative day.
May 18, 2017
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
May 18, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 115.
May 18, 2017
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 115 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-17 shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
May 17, 2017
Rule H. Res. 323 passed House.
May 16, 2017
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 323 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 115 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-17 shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
May 11, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 69.
May 11, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-116.
Apr 27, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 12.
Apr 27, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jan 23, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Jan 3, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 3, 2017
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 18, 2017 House · vote #265 On Passage Passed 271–143 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 116 — Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 323 the amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text o… Pending —
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 11, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Thin Blue Line Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

What's happening now May 22, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 323 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 115) to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggrava…
  • S 1085 Related bill Thin Blue Line Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 6
R
Amodei, Mark E.
Nevada · Apr 25, 2017
 R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Apr 25, 2017
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Apr 25, 2017
 R
Mast, Brian J.
Florida · Mar 8, 2017
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Feb 24, 2017
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Feb 24, 2017
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Feb 9, 2017
Russell, Steve
· Feb 9, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 115: Thin Blue Line Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-115/
MLA
"H.R. 115: Thin Blue Line Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-115/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 115, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-115/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 115: Thin Blue Line Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-115/)
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