H.R. 6533

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6533 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6533

To amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the authority of the 
Department of Defense and other Federal law enforcement personnel to 
support civilian law enforcement activities, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 9, 2025

Mr. Liccardo (for himself, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. 
Fields, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Norton, Ms. Titus, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Rivas, Ms. 
Tokuda, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. 
Lofgren, Ms. Randall, Mr. McGarvey, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Bell, Mr. 
Casten, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Tran, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, 
Mrs. Trahan, Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Mr. Huffman, Ms. 
Jayapal, and Ms. Morrison) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the 
Committee on Rules, 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 title 10, United States Code, to limit the authority of the 
Department of Defense and other Federal law enforcement personnel to 
support civilian law enforcement activities, 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 ``Military in Law Enforcement 
Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON PROVISION OF SUPPORT BY ARMED FORCES TO CIVILIAN 
LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

(a) In General.--Chapter 15 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 274 the following new section:
``Sec. 274a. Limitation on provision of support
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense may provide support 
under section 272, 273, or 274 of this title only if the President 
first submits to Congress a notification and written justification for 
the support that includes--
``(1) the agency to which the support is provided;
``(2) the budget, implementation timeline with milestones, 
anticipated delivery schedule, and completion date for the 
purpose or project for which the support is provided;
``(3) the source and planned expenditure of funds provided 
for such purpose or project;
``(4) a description of the arrangements, if any, for the 
sustainment of such purpose or project and the source of funds 
to support sustainment of the capabilities and performance 
outcomes achieved using the support, if applicable;
``(5) a description of the objectives for such purpose or 
project and an evaluation framework to be used to develop 
capability and performance metrics associated with operational 
outcomes for the recipient of the support; and
``(6) information, including the amount, type, and purpose, 
about the support provided to the agency during the three 
fiscal years preceding the fiscal year for which the support 
covered by the notification and justification is provided.
``(b) Limitation on Timing.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may not provide 
support under section 272, 273, or 274 of this title for a 
period that exceeds 30 days unless a joint resolution of 
approval is enacted that approves the provision of such support 
for a longer period.
``(2) Joint resolution of approval.--In this subsection, 
the term `joint resolution of approval' means only a joint 
resolution of either House of Congress--
``(A) the title of which is as follows: `A joint 
resolution approving the provision by the Department of 
Defense of support to civilian law enforcement for a 
period of more than 30 days.'; and
``(B) the sole matter after the resolving clause of 
which is the following: `Congress approves of the 
provision of support under section 272, 273, or 274 of 
title 10, United States Code, with respect to ______ 
for a period not to exceed _____.', with the first 
blank space being filled with a short description of 
the proposed action and the second blank space being 
filled with the appropriate period following the date 
of adoption of the resolution.
``(3) Introduction.--A joint resolution of approval may be 
introduced--
``(A) in the Senate, by the majority leader (or the 
majority leader's designee) or the minority leader (or 
the minority leader's designee); and
``(B) in the House of Representatives, by the 
majority leader or the minority leader.
``(4) Consideration in the senate.--
``(A) Committee referral.--A joint resolution of 
approval introduced in the Senate shall be referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services.
``(B) Reporting and discharge.--If the Committee on 
Armed Services has not reported a joint resolution of 
approval within 10 calendar days after the date of 
referral of the joint resolution, that committee shall 
be discharged from further consideration of the joint 
resolution and the joint resolution shall be placed on 
the appropriate calendar.
``(C) Proceeding to consideration.--Notwithstanding 
Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in 
order at any time after the Committee on Armed Services 
reports a joint resolution of approval to the Senate or 
has been discharged from consideration of such a joint 
resolution (even though a previous motion to the same 
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the 
consideration of the joint resolution, and all points 
of order against the joint resolution (and against 
consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The 
motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not 
subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider 
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 
to shall not be in order.
``(D) Approval of resolution.--Approval by the 
Senate of a joint resolution of approval shall require 
the affirmative vote of three-fifths of Members of the 
Senate, duly chosen and sworn.
``(E) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals 
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may 
be, to the procedure relating to a joint resolution of 
approval shall be decided without debate.
``(F) Consideration of veto messages.--Debate in 
the Senate of any veto message with respect to a joint 
resolution of approval, including all debatable motions 
and appeals in connection with the joint resolution, 
shall be limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided 
between, and controlled by, the majority leader and the 
minority leader or their designees.
``(5) Floor consideration in house of representatives.--If 
a committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint 
resolution of approval has been referred has not reported the 
joint resolution within 10 calendar days after the date of 
referral, that committee shall be discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution.
``(6) Rules relating to senate and house of 
representatives.--
``(A) Treatment of house joint resolution in 
senate.--
``(i) Receipt before passage of senate 
resolution.--If, before the passage by the 
Senate of a joint resolution of approval, the 
Senate receives an identical joint resolution 
from the House of Representatives, the 
following procedures shall apply:
``(I) That joint resolution shall 
not be referred to a committee.
``(II) With respect to that joint 
resolution--
``(aa) the procedure in the 
Senate shall be the same as if 
no joint resolution had been 
received from the House of 
Representatives; but
``(bb) the vote on passage 
shall be on the joint 
resolution from the House of 
Representatives.
``(ii) Receipt following passage of senate 
resolution.--If, following passage of a joint 
resolution of approval in the Senate, the 
Senate receives an identical joint resolution 
from the House of Representatives, that joint 
resolution shall be placed on the appropriate 
Senate calendar.
``(iii) No companion resolution.--If a 
joint resolution of approval is received from 
the House, and no companion joint resolution 
has been introduced in the Senate, the Senate 
procedures under this subsection shall apply to 
the House joint resolution.
``(B) Treatment of senate joint resolution in 
house.--In the House of Representatives, the following 
procedures shall apply to a joint resolution of 
approval received from the Senate (unless the House has 
already passed a joint resolution relating to the same 
proposed action):
``(i) The joint resolution shall be 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
``(ii) If the Committee on Armed Services 
has not reported the joint resolution within 2 
calendar days after the date of referral, that 
committee shall be discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution.
``(iii) Beginning on the third legislative 
day after the Committee on Armed Services 
reports the joint resolution to the House or 
has been discharged from further consideration 
thereof, it shall be in order to move to 
proceed to consider the joint resolution in the 
House. All points of order against the motion 
are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order 
after the House has disposed of a motion to 
proceed on the joint resolution. The previous 
question shall be considered as ordered on the 
motion to its adoption without intervening 
motion. The motion shall not be debatable. A 
motion to reconsider the vote by which the 
motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
``(iv) The joint resolution shall be 
considered as read. All points of order against 
the joint resolution and against its 
consideration are waived. The previous question 
shall be considered as ordered on the joint 
resolution to final passage without intervening 
motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the sponsor of the joint 
resolution (or a designee) and an opponent. A 
motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the 
joint resolution shall not be in order.
``(C) Application to revenue measures.--The 
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the 
House of Representatives to a joint resolution of 
approval that is a revenue measure.
``(7) Rules of senate and house of representatives.--This 
subsection is enacted by Congress--
``(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, 
and as such is deemed a part of the rules of each 
House, respectively, and supersedes other rules only to 
the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
``(B) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the 
case of any other rule of that House.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 15 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 274 the following new item:

``274a. Limitation on provision of support.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Use of military equipment.--Section 272 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``section 274a of 
this title and'' after ``in accordance with''.
(2) Training and advising civilian law enforcement 
officials.--Section 273 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ``section 274a of this title and'' after 
``in accordance with''.
(3) Maintenance and operation of equipment.--Section 274 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``section 
274a of this title and'' after ``in accordance with'' each 
place it appears.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON SIMULTANEOUS SERVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE AND CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

(a) In General.--Chapter 49 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 990. Prohibition on simultaneous service in the Department of 
Defense and civilian law enforcement
``(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an 
individual serving in any capacity in the Department of Defense, 
whether in the Armed Forces or in a civilian position, may not, while 
so serving, serve in any capacity in any element of civilian law 
enforcement outside of the Department of Defense.
``(b) Exceptions.--
``(1) In general.--The prohibition under subsection (a) 
shall not to apply to a member of a reserve component named in 
section 10101 of this title who serves in an element of 
civilian law enforcement outside of the Department of Defense 
in their civilian capacity.
``(2) Active duty.--A member described in paragraph (1) who 
is called or ordered to active duty shall formally and 
officially recuse himself or herself from civilian law 
enforcement duties.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 49 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:

``990. Prohibition on simultaneous service in the Department of Defense 
and civilian law enforcement.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ARMED FORCES AND FEDERAL LAW 
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHEN ASSISTING CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

(a) In General.--Section 723(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``to respond to a civil disturbance''.
(b) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Conforming amendment.--The heading for section 723 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``in 
response to civil disturbances''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 41 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 723 and 
inserting the following new item:

``723. Support of Federal authorities: requirement for use of members 
of the Armed Forces and Federal law 
enforcement personnel.''.

SEC. 5. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.

(a) In General.--Any person, State, or local government aggrieved 
of a violation of this Act or an amendment made by this Act by the 
Federal Government, or an officer or employee thereof, may bring a 
civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States.
(b) Relief.--In a civil action brought under subsection (a), the 
court may award injunctive or other equitable relief and damages.
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