H.R. 4135: Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-11-30 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-11-30 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015

Plain summary

Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015 The bill amends the federal criminal code to modify the eligibility of certain foreign nationals to purchase and possess firearms in the United States. Current law prohibits firearm sale or transfer to or possession by a foreign national (i.e., alien) who is: (1) unlawfully present in the United States, or (2) lawfully present under a nonimmigrant visa (e.g., tourist visa). The prohibitions do not apply in certain circumstances. This bill expands the prohibition to bar firearm sale or transfer to or possession by a foreign national who was lawfully admitted to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. The prohibitions do not apply to a foreign national lawfully admitted under the Visa Waiver Program if that foreign national is a government official or law enforcement officer, or possesses a hunting license. Additionally, such foreign national may apply for a Department of Justice waiver to allow firearm possession.

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

What a vote does

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

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Visa Waiver Program Firearms Clarification Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8] · 30 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8] reported raising $6.1 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (1)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr4135.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4135 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114