[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-180
114th Congress

An Act


 
To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to ensure their
own safety, and the safety of their families, during a covered
furlough. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Law Enforcement Self-Defense
and Protection Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Too often, Federal law enforcement officers encounter
potentially violent criminals, placing officers in danger of
grave physical harm.
(2) In 2012 alone, 1,857 Federal law enforcement officers
were assaulted, with 206 sustaining serious injuries.
(3) From 2008 through 2011, an additional 8,587 Federal law
enforcement officers were assaulted.
(4) Federal law enforcement officers remain a target even
when they are off-duty. Over the past 3 years, 27 law
enforcement officers have been killed off-duty.
(5) It is essential that law enforcement officers are able
to defend themselves, so they can carry out their critical
missions and ensure their own personal safety and the safety of
their families whether on-duty or off-duty.
(6) These dangers to law enforcement officers continue to
exist during a covered furlough.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act--
(1) the term ``agency'' means each authority of the
executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of
the United States;
(2) the term ``covered Federal law enforcement officer''
means any individual who--
(A) is an employee of an agency;
(B) has the authority to make arrests or
apprehensions for, or prosecute, violations of Federal
law; and
(C) on the day before the date on which the
applicable covered furlough begins, is authorized by the
agency employing the individual to carry a firearm in
the course of official duties;

[[Page 446]]

(3) the term ``covered furlough'' means a planned event by
an agency during which employees are involuntarily furloughed
due to downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, or any budget
situation including a lapse in appropriations; and
(4) the term ``firearm'' has the meaning given that term in
section 921 of title 18, United States Code.
SEC. 4. PROTECTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE
SUBJECTED TO A COVERED FURLOUGH.

During a covered furlough, a covered Federal law enforcement officer
shall have the same rights to carry a firearm issued by the Federal
Government as if the covered furlough was not in effect, including, if
authorized on the day before the date on which the covered furlough
begins, the right to carry a concealed firearm, if the sole reason the
covered Federal law enforcement officer was placed on leave was due to
the covered furlough.

Approved June 22, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2137:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114-543 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
May 10, considered and passed House.
June 10, considered and passed Senate.