I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 378
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating
factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status
of the victim.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY14, 2025
Mr. B
UCHANAN(for himself, Mr. HIGGINSof Louisiana, Mr. NEHLS, Mr.
E
ZELL, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. BOST, Mr. WEBERof Texas, Mr.
L
ALOTA, Ms. DELACRUZ, Mrs. HOUCHIN, Mrs. LUNA, Mr. HUDSON,
Mr. B
ACON, Mr. VALADAO, and Mr. OBERNOLTE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional
aggravating factors for the imposition of the death pen-
alty based on the status of the victim.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Thin Blue Line Act’’. 4
SEC. 2. AGGRAVATING FACTORS FOR DEATH PENALTY. 5
Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is 6
amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: 7
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•HR 378 IH
‘‘(17) KILLING OR TARGETING OF LAW EN -1
FORCEMENT OFFICER .— 2
‘‘(A) The defendant killed or attempted to 3
kill, in the circumstance described in subpara-4
graph (B), a person who is authorized by law— 5
‘‘(i) to engage in or supervise the pre-6
vention, detention, investigation, or pros-7
ecution, or the incarceration of any person 8
for any criminal violation of law; 9
‘‘(ii) to apprehend, arrest, or pros-10
ecute an individual for any criminal viola-11
tion of law; or 12
‘‘(iii) to be a firefighter or other first 13
responder. 14
‘‘(B) The circumstance referred to in sub-15
paragraph (A) is that the person was killed or 16
targeted— 17
‘‘(i) while he or she was engaged in 18
the performance of his or her official du-19
ties; 20
‘‘(ii) because of the performance of his 21
or her official duties; or 22
‘‘(iii) because of his or her status as 23
a public official or employee.’’. 24
Æ
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