H.R. 2240 – Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act; H.R. 2243 – LEOSA Reform Act; H.R. 2255 – Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025

Committee on Rules

2025-05-13

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The Rules Committee convened to consider three pieces of legislation aimed at supporting law enforcement, particularly during National Police Week, which included discussions on data collection for officer safety, concealed carry rights for officers, and the purchase of retired service weapons by federal law enforcement officials. The meeting also addressed contentious topics such as the January 6th Capitol attack, funding for law enforcement, and officer mental health.

Themes

Legislation Supporting Law Enforcement

The committee reviewed three bills: H.R. 2240, the "Improving Law Enforcement Officers Safety and Wellness through Data Act," which mandates the Attorney General to develop reports on violent attacks against officers and assess new reporting categories[ 00:10:32-00:10:49 ] ; H.R. 2243, the "LEOSA Reform Act of 2024," proposing amendments to the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act to expand concealed carry rights for active and retired officers in various public spaces[ 00:10:58-00:11:09 ] ; and H.R. 2255, the "Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025," which would allow current and retired federal officers to purchase their retired firearms from the General Services Administration (GSA)[ 00:11:33-00:11:47 ] . Proponents argued these bills enhance officer safety, recognize their dedication, and create cost efficiencies by preventing the destruction of firearms[ 00:11:50 ]

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. However, opponents expressed strong reservations, asserting that H.R. 2243 could undermine public safety by preempting state concealed carry laws and weakening training standards. They also raised concerns that H.R. 2255, in its current form, might allow individuals who have committed crimes to purchase firearms without background checks.

January 6th Capitol Attack and Honoring Police

A significant point of contention was the failure to install a bronze plaque honoring the officers who defended the Capitol during the January 6th attack, despite congressional authorization. Ranking Member McGovern criticized Speaker Johnson for this delay, viewing it as a profound disrespect to law enforcement. The discussion expanded to include the characterization of January 6th attackers, with some describing them as violent criminals who brutally assaulted police, while others suggested a broader perspective was needed regarding law enforcement support across the country. There was also criticism regarding former President Trump's pardons of individuals convicted for assaulting officers during the January 6th events.

Funding for Law Enforcement and Grant Cuts

Members debated recent cuts to law enforcement funding, with Democrats highlighting the Trump administration's termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in Department of Justice (DOJ) grants for local police, victim services, and crime prevention programs. These cuts affected initiatives like the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative and the VALOR Initiative for officer suicide prevention. Proposed cuts of over $500 million to the FBI, potentially resulting in 1,300 layoffs, were also a point of concern[ 01:13:48-01:14:10 ]

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. Republican members defended these actions as necessary to eliminate wasteful or duplicative spending and reallocate resources, particularly to border security. Democrats countered that these cuts actively undermine law enforcement and disrespect congressional appropriations.

Officer Mental Health and Wellness

Representative Gillen introduced an amendment to H.R. 2240 emphasizing the critical need for mental health support for law enforcement officers. Her amendment aimed to ensure the Attorney General's report included strategies to reduce stigma and encourage access to mental health screening and peer-to-peer counseling. Despite bipartisan acknowledgement of the importance of officer mental health, the amendment was ultimately not adopted following a roll call vote.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting began with sincere condolences and expressions of sympathy for a member's personal loss, establishing a warm, respectful start[ 00:15:17-00:15:33 ]

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. However, discussions quickly became contentious and polarized, particularly around the events of January 6th and the administration's policies on law enforcement funding. While formal procedures were maintained, evident frustration and sharp disagreements underscored the partisan divide on issues such as police support and accountability[ 00:38:03-00:38:06 ]

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[ 01:06:40-01:06:49 ]

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Participants

Transcript

This heartbreak's imaginable.  As has been said by many, including me, Molly was a very radiant light within your family, and she left an indelible mark upon the hearts of everyone she met.  It's good to see you beside us on the dais once more, and again, you and our family remain in our thoughts and prayers.   Today the Rules Committee is convening to consider three pieces of legislation, H.R.  2240, H.R.  2243, and H.R.
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2255.
H.R.  2240, the bipartisan   Improving law enforcement officers safety and wellness through Data Act requires the attorney general to develop reports relating to violent attacks against law enforcement officers and submit them to Congress.  Some of the components of these reports include the number of attacks intentionally targeting police officers.  A description of the federal response on attacks against law enforcement officers and recommendations for improving responses to attacks.   Further, this legislation requires the Attorney General to submit to Congress a report that assesses the ability to implement a new category of reporting in the uniform online reporting system and the national incident-based reporting system.   provides details on how to engage state and local law enforcement agencies in reporting the data as well as disparities and offers additional legislative tools or authorities helpful in deferring aggregate actions hr 2243 the bipartisan leosa reform act of 2024   amends Title 18 United States Code to improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act and provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers.  This legislation provides necessary exemptions, clarifications, and certifications that would allow current and retired law enforcement officers   certified under Leosa to carry a concealed firearm on public transportation and within national parks, gun-free school zones, as well as certain federal facilities.  By clarifying the rights of qualified current law enforcement officers, as well as retired officers, this legislation will augment existing public safety postures in critical locations across our nation.
To quote former Senator Barbara Boxer, quote, law enforcement officers are never off duty.  They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place where peace is threatened.  They need all the help they can get, end quote.   Finally, H.R.  2255, the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025, directs the administrator of the General Services Administration, GSA, to establish a program to allow current and retired federal law enforcement officers to purchase a retired firearm from the agency that issued the firearm to that officer.   Current law requires federal agencies to destroy   retired firearms, a process that remains costly, and that cost is ultimately borne by hardworking taxpayers across the nation.  By recovering these costs and allowing current and retired federal law enforcement officers who remain in good standing to purchase these firearms, this legislation achieves pertinent aims that benefit law enforcement and hardworking taxpayers.   This week is National Police Week, and it's a perfect opportunity to advance these pieces of legislation that affirm our commitment to supporting the men and women of law enforcement.  I invite our Democrat colleagues to join us in doing so.  And before I yield to the ranking member, please wish Mr. Neguse a happy birthday when he comes in.   Today is his birthday, and we're glad he has the gift of spending it with the Rules Committee.  Well, hopefully he's out drinking.  With that, I look forward to today's discussion.  Now yield to Mr. McGovern for any comments he wishes to make.
Well, thank you, Madam Chair.  And before I begin, I just want to thank you and all the members of this committee from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and gestures of kindness over the last few weeks.   It means more to me and my family than you can imagine.  I appreciate all the outreach.  It was comforting.  Madam Chair, I'm not going to get into the details of all the bills that we're considering today.  I'll leave it to the panelists to go into details.  It is National Police Week and I do want to express my deep disappointment that this House   still has yet to properly acknowledge and honor those who defended our lives here on January 6th.  I was in the chair that day.  I took over for Speaker Pelosi.  I was one of the last people off the House floor.  I saw the attackers that day up close, and it was horrific.  And Speaker Johnson, for whatever reason, refuses.   refuses to put up a bronze plaque honoring the officers who defended this building that day.  Congress passed a law in 2022 to put up a memorial.  The plaque is already printed.

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