H.R. 2698

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2698 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2698

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of 
Homeland Security to bolster security against threats posed by ghost 
guns, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 7, 2025

Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, 
Mr. Swalwell, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Correa, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. 
Magaziner, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Kennedy of New 
York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Hernandez, Ms. Pou, Mr. 
Carter of Louisiana, and Mr. Garcia of California) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of 
Homeland Security to bolster security against threats posed by ghost 
guns, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Bolstering Security Against Ghost 
Guns Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY POLICY TO BOLSTER SECURITY 
AGAINST THREATS POSED BY GHOST GUNS.

(a) In General.--Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 890E. POLICY TO BOLSTER SECURITY AGAINST THREATS POSED BY GHOST 
GUNS.

``(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Under 
Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Department, shall 
issue a Department-wide strategy to bolster security against threats 
posed by ghost guns, in order to improve prevention, preparedness, and 
response to homeland security threats, such as an act of terrorism or 
targeted violence, associated with ghost guns. Such strategy shall 
identify the following activities:
``(1) Across the Department related to ghost guns and 
approaches to enhance cross-component information sharing and 
collaboration.
``(2) With Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
partners related to ghost guns and approaches to enhance the 
Department's collaboration with such partners.
``(b) Cross-Border Threats.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary for Intelligence 
and Analysis of the Department, in coordination with the Commissioner 
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, and the heads of other appropriate Federal 
partners, shall develop and disseminate a homeland security threat 
assessment regarding cross-border threats associated with United 
States-sourced ghost guns and partially complete frames and receivers, 
with special attention to ghost guns and partially complete frames and 
receivers used by transnational criminal organizations involved in 
illicit activity that pose a security threat to the border.
``(c) United States Secret Service Activities.--Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of 
the United States Secret Service, acting through the Chief of the 
National Threat Assessment Center, in coordination with appropriate 
Federal partners, shall carry out research and issue public reports 
that provide guidance regarding how to prevent, prepare for, and 
respond to homeland security threats, such as an act of terrorism or 
targeted violence, associated with ghost guns.
``(d) Transportation Security Administration Activities.--Not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and 
annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate regarding the number of violations of 
subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and any other incidents involving the unauthorized 
carriage of a firearm at a passenger screening checkpoint, including 
information regarding which such violations and incidents during the 
period of time covered by each such report were committed by 
individuals while receiving expedited screening, which were repeat 
offenses, and which involved a ghost gun. Such reporting shall also 
include information regarding trends in the rates of violations and 
incidents on a per passenger basis, as well as a description of 
Transportation Security Administration efforts during the period of 
time covered by each such report to increase public awareness of the 
prohibition described in such subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(e) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Activities.--Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, acting 
through the Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security 
Investigations, shall, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection and appropriate Federal partners, carry 
out the following:
``(1) Prepare an analysis that includes data from the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other 
Federal partners regarding homeland security threats, including 
border security threats, and cross-border illicit smuggling 
trends and patterns associated with United States-sourced 
firearms, including ghost guns, recovered in Mexico.
``(2) Research and develop a mechanism to share aggregated 
Federal information regarding United States-sourced firearms, 
including ghost guns, recovered in Mexico in support of 
carrying out the strategy under subsection (a).
``(3) Develop performance measures to assess the 
effectiveness of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
activities aimed at combatting homeland security threats, 
including border security threats, and illicit cross-border 
activities involving United States-sourced firearms, including 
ghost guns.
``(f) Office of Intelligence and Analysis Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, 
the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the 
Department, in consultation with the Director of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, shall develop a report assessing 
homeland security threats of ghost guns and partially complete 
frames and receivers associated with a foreign terrorist 
organization or other individual in furtherance of an act of 
terrorism or targeted violence. Each such report shall--
``(A) assess the range of sources for acquiring, 
manufacturing, and trafficking ghost guns and partially 
complete frames and receivers;
``(B) identify each type of homeland security 
threat associated with ghost guns and partially 
complete frames and receivers; and
``(C) specify the level of threat associated with 
each threat identified pursuant to paragraph (2).
``(2) Dissemination of reports.--Consistent with the 
protection of classified and confidential unclassified 
information, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis 
shall--
``(A) submit the initial report required under 
paragraph (1) to Federal, State, local, Tribal, and 
territorial law enforcement officials, including 
officials who operate within State, local, and regional 
fusion centers under the Department of Homeland 
Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center 
Initiative established by section 210A; and
``(B) submit each report required under paragraph 
(1) to the appropriate congressional committees.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Act of terrorism.--The term `act of terrorism' has 
the meaning given such term in section 3077 of title 18, United 
States Code.
``(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence, the Committee on Homeland Security, and 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives; and
``(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence, the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate.
``(3) Domestic terrorism.--The term `domestic terrorism' 
has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of title 18, 
United States Code.
``(4) Firearm.--The term `firearm' has the meaning given 
such term in section 921 of title 18, United States Code.
``(5) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term `foreign 
terrorist organization' means an organization designated as a 
foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
``(6) Ghost gun.--The term `ghost gun' has the meaning 
given the term `privately made firearm' in section 478.11 of 
title 27, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(7) Targeted violence.--The term `targeted violence' has 
the meaning given such term in section 6418 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-
81; 6 U.S.C. 124h-1).
``(8) Partially complete frame or receiver.--The term 
`partially complete frame or receiver' means a partially 
complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receiver, as 
such term is described in section 478.12(c) of title 27, Code 
of Federal Regulations.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 890D the following new item:

``Sec. 890E. Policy to bolster security against threats posed by ghost 
guns.''.
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