S. 238: Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-01-22 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-133.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-01-22 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-133. (final step reached)
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

Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to issue oleoresin capsicum spray (i.e., pepper spray) to officers and employees who respond to emergency situations at high-security, medium-security, and administrative facilities. Officers and employees may use pepper spray to reduce violent acts by prisoners and visitors. An officer of employee must complete a training course prior to receiving pepper spray and annually thereafter on its use. (Sec. 3) The Government Accountability Office must: (1) evaluate the effect of issuing pepper spray on reducing crime and violence in high-security, medium-security, and administrative facilities; (2) evaluate the advisability of issuing pepper spray at low- or minimum-security facilities; and (3) recommend safety improvements for BOP officers and employees.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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

Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

John Cornyn (R-TX), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

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 (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s238.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>

Record fed-us-cong114-s238 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114