I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2137 
To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to ensure their 
own safety, and the safety of their families, during a covered furlough. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2015 
Mr. COLLINS of Georgia (for himself, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. REICHERT, and Mr. 
PASCRELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to 
ensure their own safety, and the safety of their families, 
during a covered furlough. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Law Enforce-
ment Self-Defense and Protection Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:56 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2137.IH
H2137
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) Too often, Federal law enforcement officers 
encounter potentially violent criminals, placing offi-
cers in danger of grave physical harm. 
(2) In 2012 alone, 1,857 Federal law enforce-
ment officers were assaulted, with 206 sustaining se-
rious injuries. 
(3) From 2008 through 2011, an additional 
8,587 Federal law enforcement officers were as-
saulted. 
(4) Federal law enforcement officers remain a 
target even when they are off-duty. Over the past 3 
years, 27 law enforcement officers have been killed 
off-duty. 
(5) It is essential that law enforcement officers 
are able to defend themselves, so they can carry out 
their critical missions and ensure their own personal 
safety and the safety of their families whether on- 
duty or off-duty. 
(6) These dangers to law enforcement officers 
continue to exist during a covered furlough. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘agency’’ means each authority of 
the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the 
Government of the United States; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:56 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2137.IH
H2137
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) the term ‘‘covered Federal law enforcement 
officer’’ means any individual who— 
(A) is an employee of an agency; 
(B) has the authority to make arrests or 
apprehensions for, or prosecute, violations of 
Federal law; and 
(C) on the day before the date on which 
the applicable covered furlough begins, is au-
thorized by the agency employing the individual 
to carry a firearm in the course of official du-
ties; 
(3) the term ‘‘covered furlough’’ means a 
planned event by an agency during which employees 
are involuntarily furloughed due to downsizing, re-
duced funding, lack of work, or any budget situation 
including a lapse in appropriations; and 
(4) the term ‘‘firearm’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 921 of title 18, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 4. PROTECTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
CERS WHO ARE SUBJECTED TO A COVERED 
FURLOUGH. 
During a covered furlough, a covered Federal law en-
forcement officer shall have the same rights to carry a 
firearm issued by the Federal Government as if the cov-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:56 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2137.IH
H2137
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
ered furlough was not in effect, including, if authorized 
on the day before the date on which the covered furlough 
begins, the right to carry a concealed firearm, if the sole 
reason the covered Federal law enforcement officer was 
placed on leave was due to the covered furlough. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:56 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2137.IH
H2137
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS