I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1551 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses targeting 
law enforcement officers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2025 
Mr. RUTHERFORD (for himself, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. GOLD-
EN of Maine, Mr. HERN of Oklahoma, and Mr. FITZGERALD) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal 
offenses targeting law enforcement officers, and for other 
purposes. 
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 ‘‘Protect and Serve Act 
of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. CRIMES TARGETING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
CERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whoever, in any circumstance 
described in subsection (b), willfully causes serious bodily 
injury to a person because of that person’s status as a 
law enforcement officer, or attempts to do so— 
‘‘(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 
years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; 
and 
‘‘(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years 
or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or 
both, if— 
‘‘(A) death results from the offense; or 
‘‘(B) the offense includes kidnapping or an 
attempt to kidnap, or an attempt to kill. 
‘‘(b) CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED.—For purposes of 
subsection (a), the circumstances described in this sub-
section are that— 
‘‘(1) the conduct described in subsection (a) oc-
curs during the course of, or as the result of, the 
travel of the defendant or the victim— 
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‘‘(A) across a State line or national border; 
or 
‘‘(B) using a channel, facility, or instru-
mentality of interstate or foreign commerce; 
‘‘(2) in connection with the conduct described in 
subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, 
dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or 
other weapon that has traveled in interstate or for-
eign commerce; 
‘‘(3) the conduct described in subsection (a) oc-
curs on Federal property or in interference of Fed-
eral actors; and 
‘‘(4) the victim is a Federal law enforcement of-
ficer. 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No prosecution of any of-
fense described in this section may be undertaken by 
the United States, except under the certification in 
writing of the Attorney General, or a designee, 
that— 
‘‘(A) the State has requested that the Fed-
eral Government assume jurisdiction; or 
‘‘(B) a prosecution by the United States is 
in the public interest and necessary to secure 
substantial justice. To determine whether a 
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prosecution meets this standard, the Attorney 
General shall consider: 
‘‘(i) the verdict or sentence obtained 
pursuant to State charges; 
‘‘(ii) the extent of planning and 
premeditation; 
‘‘(iii) the intended outcome of the con-
duct; 
‘‘(iv) disregard for human life, includ-
ing collateral damage to unintended vic-
tims; and 
‘‘(v) benefit to public safety from Fed-
eral prosecution. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to limit the au-
thority of Federal officers, or a Federal grand jury, 
to investigate possible violations of this section. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term 
‘law enforcement officer’ means an employee of a 
governmental or public agency who is authorized by 
law— 
‘‘(A) to engage in or supervise the preven-
tion, detection, or the investigation of any 
criminal violation of law; or 
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