I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6453 
To direct the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report 
the number of background checks conducted by the National Instant 
Criminal Background Check System during the month of March 2019 
and during the COVID–19 public health emergency, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2020 
Mr. QUIGLEY (for himself, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. BEYER, Mrs. 
HAYES, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. ENGEL) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To direct the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
to report the number of background checks conducted 
by the National Instant Criminal Background Check Sys-
tem during the month of March 2019 and during the 
COVID–19 public health emergency, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Apr 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6453.IH
H6453
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(1) COVID–19 infections have grown rapidly 
throughout the United States creating a widespread 
outbreak that has been deemed a public health emer-
gency by the World Health Organization. 
(2) The COVID–19 public health emergency 
has led to an increase in firearm sales, which poses 
a serious health and security risk to the American 
public. 
(3) A firearm may be sold before a background 
check is completed. 
(4) The increased public demand to purchase a 
firearm strains the resources of the National Instant 
Criminal Background Check System (‘‘NICS’’). 
(5) A person who is prohibited by Federal law 
from possessing a firearm, such as a person who has 
been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic 
violence, has an increased chance of acquiring a fire-
arm due to this increased public demand to purchase 
a firearm. 
(6) This strain on resources is affecting the 
ability of the NICS to complete background checks 
within 3-business-days, allowing for federally li-
censed firearm dealers to complete a firearm sale 
without a completed background check, which is 
known as a ‘‘default proceed sale’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Apr 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6453.IH
H6453
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(7) Such firearm sales conducted in the absence 
of a completed background check are known as ‘‘de-
fault proceeds’’ and may have devastating con-
sequences by making it easier for a person who is 
prohibited by Federal law from possessing firearms 
to acquire such firearms. 
SEC. 2. REPORT ON THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL 
BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, in consultation with the Director of Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the operation of the National 
Instant Criminal Background Check System beginning on 
January 31, 2020 (the date of the public health emergency 
declared by the Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act with respect to COVID–19), 
through the date of the enactment of this Act, and the 
equivalent period in 2019, to include the following: 
(1) The total number of background checks ini-
tiated. 
(2) The total number of background checks 
completed. 
(3) The total number of background checks re-
sulting in approval. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Apr 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6453.IH
H6453
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(4) The total number of background checks 
that were delayed. 
(5) The number of background checks resulting 
in— 
(A) a denial before the 3-business-day re-
view period is completed; and 
(B) delayed denials. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:41 Apr 14, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6453.IH
H6453
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS