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H.R. 2172 117th Congress House

Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2021

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit law enforcement officers from engaging in sexual activity with persons in custody, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 23, 2021 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Congressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDetention of persons
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Mar 23, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 23, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 19, 2021

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

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2021

This bill establishes a framework to prohibit law enforcement officers at the federal, state, and local levels from engaging in sexual acts with individuals who are in custody.

At the federal level, the bill makes it unlawful for a federal law enforcement officer who is acting under color of law to engage in a sexual act with an individual who is under arrest, in detention, or in custody. Consent is not a defense to prosecution for unlawful conduct. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 15 years, or both.

At the state and local level, the bill conditions eligibility for funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services program on the enactment of a similar law.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 1280 George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021
  • HR 677 JUSTICE Act
  • HR 1620 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 22
All 22 Democratic 16 Republican 1
D
Underwood, Lauren
Illinois · Dec 1, 2021
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Jul 22, 2021
 D
Adams, Alma S.
North Carolina · Mar 23, 2021
Axne, Cynthia
· Mar 23, 2021
 D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Mar 23, 2021
Eshoo, Anna
· Mar 23, 2021
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Mar 23, 2021
 D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Mar 23, 2021
Gonzalez, Anthony
· Mar 23, 2021
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Houlahan, Chrissy
Pennsylvania · Mar 23, 2021
 R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Mar 23, 2021
Katko, John
· Mar 23, 2021
LANGEVIN, JAMES
· Mar 23, 2021
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Mar 23, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2172: Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2172/
MLA
"H.R. 2172: Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2172/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2172, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2172/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2172: Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2172/)
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