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H.R. 3998: Protect America Act of 2017

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H.R. 3998: Protect America Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-10-10 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-10-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. 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.
  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

Protect America Act of 2017

Plain summary

Protect America Act of 2017 Preventing Terrorists From Obtaining Firearms Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to authorize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) or a U.S. Attorney's Office to delay for up to 72 hours and file an emergency petition to prohibit a firearm transfer to a person who is being investigated, or who during the past five years has been investigated, as a known or suspected terrorist. Preventing Terrorists From Obtaining Explosives Act of 2017 Additionally, the bill authorizes the ATF or a U.S. Attorney's Office to delay for up to 90 days and file an emergency petition to prohibit the approval of an application for an explosives permit or license from a person who is being investigated, or who during the past five years has been investigated, as a known or suspected terrorist. The bill requires the Department of Justice to review the terrorist watch and no-fly lists and remove the name of any person whose name was erroneously placed on such lists.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

Protect America Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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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: Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

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 (2)
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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3998 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115