I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5522 
To abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, transfer 
its functions relating to the Federal firearms, explosives, and arson 
laws, violent crime, and domestic terrorism to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, and transfer its functions relating to the Federal alcohol 
and tobacco smuggling laws to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mr. STOCKMAN, and Mr. RIBBLE) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
A BILL 
To abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives, transfer its functions relating to the Federal 
firearms, explosives, and arson laws, violent crime, and 
domestic terrorism to the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion, and transfer its functions relating to the Federal 
alcohol and tobacco smuggling laws to the Drug Enforce-
ment Administration, 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 ‘‘ATF Elimination Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF HIRING AUTHORITY OF THE BU-
REAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, 
AND EXPLOSIVES. 
The hiring authority of the Director of the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is re-
scinded. 
SEC. 3. TRANSFER PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Direc-
tor of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Ad-
ministrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration shall 
jointly develop and submit to the Congress a plan for 
winding up the affairs of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives pursuant to this Act. The plan 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, without compro-
mising core functions, eliminate and reduce duplicative, 
unnecessary functions or waste. 
(b) FBI REPORT TO GSA ON EXCESS PROPERTY TO 
BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FBI.—Within 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Fed-
eral Bureau of Investigation shall transmit to the Admin-
istrator of the General Services Administration a report 
that specifies the property to be transferred to the Bureau 
pursuant to this Act that the Director has determined will 
not be needed by the Bureau. 
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SEC. 4. ABOLITION OF BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, 
FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES. 
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Ex-
plosives is abolished. 
SEC. 5. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE FED-
ERAL FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND ARSON 
LAWS, AND TO VIOLENT CRIME AND DOMES-
TIC TERRORISM, TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU 
OF INVESTIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The functions relating to the in-
vestigation and enforcement of criminal and regulatory 
violations of the Federal firearms, explosives, and arson 
laws, and the investigation of violent crime and domestic 
terrorism, which on the effective date of this Act, were 
performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
and Explosives, are hereby transferred to the Attorney 
General. 
(b) DELEGATION
OF FUNCTIONS.—The Attorney 
General shall delegate to the Director of the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation the functions transferred under this 
section. 
(c) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any other Fed-
eral law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation 
of authority, or any document of or pertaining to the Bu-
reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with 
respect to functions transferred by this section— 
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(1) to the Secretary of the Treasury or the 
head of that bureau is deemed to refer to the Attor-
ney General; and 
(2) to the Department of the Treasury or that 
bureau is deemed to refer to the Department of Jus-
tice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as ap-
propriate. 
SEC. 6. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE FED-
ERAL ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO SMUGGLING 
LAWS TO THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN-
ISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The functions relating to inves-
tigation and enforcement of criminal ad regulatory viola-
tions of the Federal alcohol and tobacco smuggling laws, 
which on the effective date of this Act, were performed 
by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explo-
sives, are hereby transferred to the Attorney General. 
(b) DELEGATION
OF FUNCTIONS.—The Attorney 
General shall delegate to the Administrator of Drug En-
forcement the functions transferred under this section. 
(c) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any other Fed-
eral law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation 
of authority, or any document of or pertaining to the Bu-
reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with 
respect to functions transferred by this section— 
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(1) to the Secretary of the Treasury or the 
head of that bureau is deemed to refer to the Attor-
ney General; and 
(2) to the Department of the Treasury or that 
bureau is deemed to refer to the Department of Jus-
tice or the Drug Enforcement Administration, as ap-
propriate. 
SEC. 7. PROPERTY AND RECORDS. 
The contracts, liabilities, records, property, and other 
assets and interests of, or made available in connection 
with, the functions transferred by this Act are hereby 
transferred to the Attorney General for appropriate alloca-
tion. 
SEC. 8. PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The personnel employed in con-
nection with the functions transferred by this Act are 
hereby transferred to the Attorney General. 
(b) EFFECT.—During the 1-year period beginning on 
the effective date of this Act, any full-time or part-time 
personnel employed in permanent positions shall not be 
separated or reduced in grade or compensation because 
of the transfer under this Act. 
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SEC. 9. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
(a) LEGAL DOCUMENTS.—All orders, determinations, 
rules, regulations, permits, grants, contracts, certificates, 
licenses, and privileges— 
(1) that have been issued, made, granted, or al-
lowed to become effective by the President, by the 
head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
and Explosives, the Attorney General, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, any other Government official, or a 
court of competent jurisdiction, in the performance 
of functions of the head of that bureau that are 
transferred by this Act, and 
(2) that are in effect on the effective date of 
this Act (or become effective after such date pursu-
ant to their terms as in effect on such date), 
shall continue in effect according to their terms until 
modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in 
accordance with law by the President, the Attorney Gen-
eral or other authorized official, or a court of competent 
jurisdiction, or by operation of law. 
(b) PROCEEDINGS.—The provisions of this Act shall 
not affect any proceedings or any application for any bene-
fits, service, license, permit, certificate, or financial assist-
ance pending before the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives on the effective date of this Act, but 
such proceedings and applications shall be continued. Or-
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ders shall be issued in such proceedings, appeals shall be 
taken therefrom, and payments shall be made pursuant 
to such orders, as if this Act had not been enacted, and 
orders issued in any such proceeding shall continue in ef-
fect until modified, terminated, superseded, or revoked by 
a duly authorized official, by a court of competent jurisdic-
tion, or by operation of law. Nothing in this subsection 
shall be deemed to prohibit the discontinuance or modi-
fication of any such proceeding under the same terms and 
conditions and to the same extent that such proceeding 
could have been discontinued or modified if this Act had 
not been enacted. 
(c) SUITS.—The provisions of this Act shall not affect 
suits commenced before the effective date of this Act, and 
in all such suits, proceeding shall be had, appeals taken, 
and judgments rendered in the same manner and with the 
same effect as if this Act had not been enacted. 
(d) NONABATEMENT OF ACTIONS.—No suit, action, 
or other proceeding commenced by or against the head of 
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 
or by or against any individual in the official capacity of 
such individual as an officer of such bureau shall abate 
by reason of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) CONTINUANCE OF SUITS.—If, before the effective 
date of this Act, any agency or officer thereof in the offi-
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cial capacity of such officer, is party to a suit, and under 
this Act any function of such agency or officer is trans-
ferred to the Attorney General or any other official of the 
Department of Justice, then such suit shall be continued 
with the Attorney General or other appropriate official of 
the Department of Justice substituted or added as a 
party. 
SEC. 10. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE HOMELAND SECURITY 
ACT OF 2002.— 
(1) Section 1111(d) of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 531(d)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT
DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Personnel Management Demonstra-
tion Project established under section 102 of title I 
of division C of the Omnibus Consolidated and 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–277; 112 Stat. 
2681–585) shall be transferred to the Secretary of 
the Treasury for continued use by the Tax and 
Trade Bureau.’’. 
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(2) Section 1114(a) of such Act (6 U.S.C. 
532(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Bureau’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Federal Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO THE ENHANCED BORDER SE-
CURITY AND VISA ENTRY REFORM ACT OF 2002.—Sec-
tion 2(4) of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry 
Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1701(2)(4)) is amended 
by striking subparagraph (J) and redesignating subpara-
graphs (K) and (L) as subparagraphs (J) and (K), respec-
tively. 
(c) AMENDMENT TO THE FIREFIGHTERS’ SAFETY 
STUDY ACT.—Section 3(1) of the Firefighters’ Safety 
Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223b(1)) is amended— 
(1) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C); 
(2) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (D) and inserting a comma; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (E). 
(d) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 18, UNITED 
STATES CODE.— 
(1) Section 846(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘, together with the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explo-
sives,’’. 
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(2) Section 514(b) of division B of the Consoli-
dated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 
2013 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 113–6; 127 
Stat. 271) is amended by striking ‘‘Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives shall include 
in all such data releases’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal 
Bureau of Investigation shall include in all releases 
of data from firearm tracing studies’’. 
(3) LIMITATIONS ON USE OF FUNDS FOR DIS-
CLOSURE OF FIREARMS TRACE DATA.— 
(A) The 6th proviso under the heading 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives—Salaries and Expenses’’ in title I of 
division B of the Consolidated and Further 
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (18 
U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 112–55; 125 Stat. 
609–610) is amended by striking ‘‘Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Federal 
Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(B) The 6th proviso under the heading 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives—Salaries and Expenses’’ in title II of 
division B of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2010 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 
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111–117; 123 Stat. 3128–3129) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion’’. 
(C) The 6th proviso under the heading 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives—Salaries and Expenses’’ in title II of 
division B of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 
2009 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 111–8; 
123 Stat. 574–576) is amended by striking 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘Federal Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(D) The 6th proviso under the heading 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives—Salaries and Expenses’’ in title II of 
division B of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2008 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 
110–161; 121 Stat. 1903–1904) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion’’. 
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(E) The 6th proviso under the heading 
‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives—Salaries and Expenses’’ in title I of 
the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Re-
lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (18 
U.S.C. 923 note; Public Law 109–108; 119 
Stat. 2295–2296) is amended by striking ‘‘Bu-
reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explo-
sives’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Fed-
eral Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(F) The 6th proviso under the heading in 
title I of division B of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2005 (18 U.S.C. 923 note; Public 
Law 108–447; 118 Stat. 2859–2860) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation’’. 
(4) Section 2343(c)(1) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Bureau of Al-
cohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Drug Enforcement Administration’’. 
(5)(A) Section 3051 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended— 
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(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘Special Agents of the Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explo-
sives’’ and inserting ‘‘certain investiga-
tors and officers of the Department of 
Justice’’; 
(ii) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(a) Spe-
cial agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives, as well as any other’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Any’’; and 
(iii) by striking subsection (b). 
(B) The item relating to section 3051 in the 
table of sections for chapter 203 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘3051. Powers of certain investigators and officers of the Department of Jus-
tice.’’. 
(e) AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL 
POLICY
REAUTHORIZATION
ACT
OF
1998.—Section 
716(c)(1)(B) of the National Drug Control Policy Reau-
thorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1714(c)(1)(B)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco, Firearms, and Explosives,’’ and inserting ‘‘Admin-
istration’’. 
(f) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE INTERNAL REVENUE 
CODE OF 1986.— 
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(1) Section 6103(i)(8)(A) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6103(i)(8)(A)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘making—’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘(ii)’’. 
(2) Section 7801(a)(2)(A) of such Code (26 
U.S.C. 7801(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘Bu-
reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Federal Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(g) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 28, UNITED STATES 
CODE.— 
(1) Section 530C(b)(2) of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘for the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,’’ 
each place it appears. 
(2) Chapter 40A of such title (28 U.S.C. 599A– 
599B) is repealed. 
(3) Section 2006(2) of such title is amended by 
striking ‘‘, the Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice,’’. 
(h) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE
VIOLENCE
AGAINST 
WOMEN AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REAUTHORIZA-
TION ACT OF 2005.—Section 1107(a) of Violence Against 
Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act 
of 2005 (28 U.S.C. 534 note) is amended by striking para-
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graph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) 
as paragraphs (2) through (12), respectively. 
(i) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES 
CODE.— 
(1)(A) Section 713 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘Service, Tax and Trade Bureau, and 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives’’ and inserting 
‘‘Service and Tax and Trade Bureau’’; 
(ii) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘, and 
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives, Department of Justice of the De-
partment of the Treasury’’; and 
(iii) in subsection (b)— 
(I) in each of paragraphs (2) and (3), 
by striking ‘‘either’’ and inserting ‘‘the’’; 
and 
(II) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘, 
the Tax and Trade Bureau, Department of 
the Treasury, and the Director of the Bu-
reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives, Department of Justice’’ and in-
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serting ‘‘and the Tax and Trade Bureau, 
Department of the Treasury’’. 
(B) The item relating to section 713 in the 
table of sections for chapter 7 of such title is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘713. Audit of Internal Revenue Service and Tax and Trade Bureau.’’. 
(2) Section 1344(b)(6) of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco, Firearms and Explosives’’. 
(j) AMENDMENT TO THE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACT 
OF 1984.—Section 609N(2) of the Justice Assistance Act 
of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10502(2)) is amended— 
(1) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (L); and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (M) and redesig-
nating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (M). 
(k) AMENDMENT TO THE VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL 
AND
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
ACT
OF
1994.—Section 
32401(a)(3)(B) of the Violent Crime Control and Law En-
forcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13921(a)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives, Department of Justice’’ and inserting ‘‘Fed-
eral Bureau of Investigation’’. 
(l) AMENDMENT
TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES 
CODE.—Section 80304(d) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
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