H.R. 4255: Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-09-09 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-09-09 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · 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, and Homeland Security. 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

Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

Plain summary

Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act This bill modifies provisions related to firearms tracing. First, the bill directs the Department of Justice to promulgate regulations that require each firearm manufactured in the United States to be marked with a serial number that is located inside the firearm's receiver or that is visible only in infrared light, in addition to the serial number mark otherwise required. Next, it requires National Instant Criminal Background Check System records to be maintained for at least 180 days. The bill also requires each licensed firearms dealer to conduct a physical check of their firearms business inventory. Finally, it removes limitations on the use of firearms tracing data by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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

Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] reported raising $998,074 (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 (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

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr4255.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4255 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116