H.R. 9208

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9208 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9208

To regulate firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 8, 2026

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Case, 
Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Ivey, and Mr. Casten) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To regulate firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

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 ``Help Empower Americans to Respond 
Act of 2026'' or the ``HEAR Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(C) any firearm muffler 
or firearm silencer; or (D)'' and inserting ``or (C)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(39) The term `qualified law enforcement officer' has the meaning 
given the term in section 926B.''.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTIONS ON FIREARM SILENCERS AND FIREARM MUFFLERS.

(a) In General.--Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after subsection (u) the following:
``(v)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful 
for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or 
affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a firearm silencer or firearm 
muffler.
``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
``(A) the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, 
transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department 
or agency of the United States or a State or a department, 
agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a sale or 
transfer to or possession by a qualified law enforcement 
officer employed by the United States or a department or agency 
of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or 
political subdivision of a State for purposes of law 
enforcement (whether on or off-duty), or a sale or transfer to 
or possession by a campus law enforcement officer for purposes 
of law enforcement (whether on or off-duty);
``(B) the importation for, or sale or transfer to a 
licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for purposes of establishing and 
maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security 
organization required by Federal law, or possession by an 
employee or contractor of such licensee on-site for such 
purposes or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized 
training or transportation of nuclear materials; or
``(C) the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, 
transfer to, or possession by a licensed manufacturer or 
licensed importer for the purposes of testing or 
experimentation authorized by the Attorney General.
``(3) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the term `campus law 
enforcement officer' means an individual who is--
``(A) employed by a private institution of higher education 
that is eligible for funding under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.);
``(B) responsible for the prevention or investigation of 
crime involving injury to persons or property, including 
apprehension or detention of persons for such crimes;
``(C) authorized by Federal, State, or local law to carry a 
firearm, execute search warrants, and make arrests; and
``(D) recognized, commissioned, or certified by a 
government entity as a law enforcement officer.''.
(b) Seizure and Forfeiture of Firearm Silencers and Firearm 
Mufflers.--Section 924(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or (k)'' and inserting 
``(k), or (v)''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(E), by inserting ``922(v),'' after 
``922(n),''.

SEC. 4. PENALTIES.

Section 924(a)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``or (q)'' and inserting ``(q), or (v)''.

SEC. 5. USE OF BYRNE GRANTS FOR BUY-BACK PROGRAMS FOR FIREARM SILENCERS 
AND FIREARM MUFFLERS.

(a) In General.--Section 501(a)(1) of title I of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10152(a)(1)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
``(L) Compensation for surrendered firearm 
silencers and firearm mufflers, as those terms are 
defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code, 
under the buy-back program for firearm silencers and 
firearm mufflers required under section 5(b) of the 
Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2026.''.
(b) Requirement.--During the 90-day period described in section 6, 
the Attorney General shall establish and implement a buy-back program, 
to be carried out across the United States, to purchase firearm 
silencers and firearm mufflers (as defined in section 921(a) of title 
18, United States Code) from individuals seeking to comply with the 
requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by sections 2, 3, and 4 shall take effect on 
the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the 
application of such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, 
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of such provision 
or amendment to any person or circumstance shall not be affected 
thereby.
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