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S. 325: A bill to amend section 845 of title 18, United States Code, relating to explosives, to grant the Attorney General exemption authority.

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S. 325: A bill to amend section 845 of title 18, United States Code, relating to explosives, to grant the Attorney General exemption authority.

111th Congress · introduced 2009-01-26 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-01-26 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

A bill to amend section 845 of title 18, United States Code, relating to explosives, to grant the Attorney General exemption authority.

Plain summary

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) exempt pest control pyrotechnics manufactured, imported, used, and stored in accordance with regulations issued by the Attorney General from requirements governing the importation, manufacture, distribution, and storage of explosive materials; and (2) authorize the Attorney General to exempt from all or a part of such requirements explosive materials or devices containing such materials when a determination is made that such materials or devices are of a type that does not pose a threat to public safety and are unlikely to be used as a weapon.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

A bill to amend section 845 of title 18, United States Code, relating to explosives, to grant the Attorney General exemption authority.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-s325 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111