Bill · H.Res. 395· House(119-HRES-395)
Establishing a "Bill of Rights" to support United States law enforcement personnel nationwide in their work to protect our communities.
- Introduced
- 5/7/2025
- Last activity
- 5/7/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Andrew Garbarino
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
A House resolution is the House speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the House agrees to it, it is officially the House's word; it is not a law, so the Senate and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
This resolution establishes a Bill of Rights'' to support law enforcement officers nationwide. It condemns calls to defund or abolish the police and strictly maintain the rule of law. The text outlines specific rights for law enforcement officers during investigations into alleged misconduct to ensure a fair administration of justice. It encourages States across the country to adopt a similar Bill of Rights'' for law enforcement personnel. Finally, the House of Representatives formally recognizes agencies and officers for their work and encourages dialogue between officers and their communities.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+5
The bill explicitly seeks to ensure a fair administration of justice for officers through rights to hearings and counsel.
Would union members be better off under this?+4
The bill supports the presence of union representatives for officers during investigations.
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?+3
The bill explicitly recognizes the right of officers to have a union representative present during investigation interviews.
The opposite
Does this change how police departments operate?-3
The bill focuses on officer protections during misconduct investigations rather than reforming systemic policing practices.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-2
The bill provides protections for officers during misconduct investigations that may limit transparency in the investigative process.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Officer Safety and Legal Protections: The text outlines rights such as an officer's inherent right to self-defense against physical threats, the right to legal recourse if a civilian attempts to assault them, and the right to protection from physical harassment targeting them. This could be viewed as positive because it explicitly values the physical safety of officers protecting communities. These points are found in the preambulatory clauses (1), (2), and (3) of the text.
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Fairness During Misconduct Investigations: The resolution establishes that officers have the right to counsel and a union representative during interview investigations, the right to be informed of the nature of the investigation beforehand, and the right to a hearing with access to relevant documents and evidence. This could be considered positive because it ensures a fair administration of justice and protects due process during internal investigations. These provisions are detailed in preambulatory clauses (5), (6), and (8).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limitations on Disciplinary Actions Based on Constitutional Rights: The text states that a law enforcement officer has the right not to be disciplined for exercising a Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, unless granted immunity that such statements will not be used against them in any criminal proceeding. For the public looking to hold officials accountable, this could be seen as a burden because it makes disciplining an officer more difficult if they choose to remain silent during an investigation. This specific provision is found in preambulatory clause (10) of the text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+5Increase States Rights+2Improves Government Transparency-2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Union Workers+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Union Protections+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform-3
- 5/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/7/2025
- Submitted in House
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Mario Diaz-BalartRepublican · Florida
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Nick LaLotaRepublican · New York
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Elise StefanikRepublican · New York
Pete StauberRepublican · Minnesota
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas