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S 1943 116th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal procedure and sentencing Firearms and explosives Law enforcement administration and funding Trade restrictions

HEAR Act

Introduced: June 24, 2019 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 24, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 24, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2019 or the HEAR Act

This bill establishes a new criminal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a firearm silencer or firearm muffler.

The bill does not prohibit certain conduct with respect to a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, including the following:

  • importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; and
  • importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials.

In addition, the bill requires the Department of Justice to establish and implement a buy-back program to purchase firearm silencers and firearm mufflers. States and local governments may use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender firearm silencers and firearm mufflers under this buy-back program.

What's happening now June 24, 2019

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1943: HEAR Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1943/
MLA
"S. 1943: HEAR Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1943/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1943, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1943/.
Markdown link
[S. 1943: HEAR Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1943/)
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