,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bacg  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,april #cj1 #bjae ,mr4
 ,coll9s ( ,georgia 7= himself1 ,ms4    
,gabb>d1 ,mr4 ,rei*]t1 & ,mr4 ,pascrell7
 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a      
,,bill  ,to ensure ,f$]al law en=cem5t  
(fic]s rema9 able to ensure _! own      
safety1 & ! safety ( _! families1 dur+ a
 cov]$ furl\gh4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,f$]al ,law        
,en=cem5t ,self-,def5se & ,protection   
,act ( #bjae4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds
 ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,too (t51 ,f$]al law   
en=cem5t (fic]s enc\nt] pot5tially      
viol5t crim9als1 plac+ (fic]s 9 dang] ( 
grave physical h>m4  7#b7 ,9 #bjab      
alone1 #a1heg ,f$]al law en=cem5t (fic]s
 7 assault$1 ) #bjf su/a9+ s]i\s        
injuries4  7#c7 ,f #bjjh ?r\gh #bjaa1 an
 additional #h1ehg ,f$]al law en=cem5t  
(fic]s 7 assault$4  7#d7 ,f$]al law     
en=cem5t (fic]s rema9 a t>get ev5 :5 !y 
are (f-duty4 ,ov] ! pa/ #c ye>s1 #bg law

 en=cem5t (fic]s h be5 kill$ (f-duty4   
7#e7 ,x is ess5tial t law en=cem5t      
(fic]s are able to def5d !mselves1 s !y 
c c>ry out _! critical missions & ensure
 _! own p]sonal safety & ! safety ( _!  
families :e!r on-duty or (f-duty4  7#f7 
,^! dang]s to law en=cem5t (fic]s       
cont9ue to exi/ dur+ a cov]$ furl\gh4   
#c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ! t]m
 ag5cy means ea* au?ority ( ! executive1
 legislative1 or judicial bran* ( !     
,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 ! t]m
 cov]$ ,f$]al law en=cem5t (fic] means  
any individual :o-- 7,a7 is an employee 
( an ag5cy2  7,b7 has ! au?ority to make
 arre/s or appreh5sions =1 or prosecute1
 violations ( ,f$]al law2 &  7,c7 on !  
day be=e ! date on :i* ! applicable     
cov]$ furl\gh beg9s1 is au?oriz$ by !   
ag5cy employ+ ! individual to c>ry a    
fire>m 9 ! c\rse ( (ficial duties2  7#c7
 ! t]m cov]$ furl\gh means a plann$ ev5t
 by an ag5cy dur+ :i* employees are     
involunt>ily furl\gh$ due to d[nsiz+1   
r$uc$ fund+1 lack ( "w1 or any budget   

situation includ+ a lapse 9             
appropriations2 &  7#d7 ! t]m fire>m has
 ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #iba (    
title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #d4    
,protect+ ,f$]al law en=cem5t (fic]s :o 
are subject$ to a cov]$ furl\gh ,dur+ a 
cov]$ furl\gh1 a cov]$ ,f$]al law       
en=cem5t (fic] %all h ! same rights to  
c>ry a fire>m issu$ by ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t z if ! cov]$ furl\gh 0 n 9    
effect1 includ+1 if au?oriz$ on ! day   
be=e ! date on :i* ! cov]$ furl\gh      
beg9s1 ! "r to c>ry a conceal$ fire>m1  
if ! sole reason ! cov]$ ,f$]al law     
en=cem5t (fic] 0 plac$ on leave 0 due to
 ! cov]$ furl\gh4