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H.R. 426: Protecting Lives Using Surplus Equipment Act of 2017

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H.R. 426: Protecting Lives Using Surplus Equipment Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-10 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4] · 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 Readiness. 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

Protecting Lives Using Surplus Equipment Act of 2017

Plain summary

Protecting Lives Using Surplus Equipment Act of 2017 This bill invalidates any regulation, rule, guidance, recommendation, or policy issued after May 15, 2015, that limits the sale or donation of excess federal property to state and local law enforcement agencies unless enacted by Congress. Additionally, it prohibits the use of federal funds to implement such regulation, rule, guidance, recommendation, or policy. Property that was recalled or seized on or after May 15, 2015, must be returned, replaced, or reissued to the state or local law enforcement agency.

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

Protecting Lives Using Surplus Equipment 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. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4] · 32 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), John R. Moolenaar (R-MI), Steve Womack (R-AR), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Andy Barr (R-KY), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)

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)
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).
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-cong115-hr426 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115