[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9979 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9979

To prohibit discrimination against firearms shippers or transporters by 
     common carriers and contract carriers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2026

Ms. Boebert (for herself, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Mr. Cloud, and 
  Mr. Higgins of Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 prohibit discrimination against firearms shippers or transporters by 
     common carriers and contract carriers, 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 ``Freedom to Ship Act''.

SEC. 2. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FIREARMS SHIPPERS OR TRANSPORTERS 
              PROHIBITED.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 149 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 14917. Interference with lawful transportation of arms
    ``(a) Violation Relating to Interference With the Lawful 
Transportation of Arms.--A motor carrier shall not interfere with the 
lawful transportation of firearms, ammunition, or component parts of a 
firearm or ammunition from a place in a State, the District of 
Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States through or 
to a place in another State, the District of Columbia, or a territory 
or possession, including by knowingly--
            ``(1) declining to transport firearms, ammunition, or 
        component parts of a firearm or ammunition that are lawfully 
        possessed by the shipper and can lawfully be transported by the 
        motor carrier;
            ``(2) imposing conditions on the transportation of 
        firearms, ammunition, or component parts of a firearm or 
        ammunition that are not required by section 922 of title 18, 
        United States Code, and have the effect of restricting the 
        ability of a person in lawful possession of such a product to 
        transfer or dispose of the same to another person in a manner 
        not prohibited by law;
            ``(3) charging more for the transportation of firearms, 
        ammunition, or component parts of a firearm or ammunition than 
        the motor carrier charges for the transportation of other 
        objects of a similar size, weight, and hazard class;
            ``(4) requiring the consent of a shipper or consignee to 
        the disclosure of information protected under section 14908 of 
        this chapter as a condition of agreeing to transport firearms, 
        ammunition, or component parts of a firearm or ammunition; or
            ``(5) engaging in any other like conduct which has the 
        effect of interfering with the ability of a person to direct 
        the shipment of firearms, ammunition, or component parts of a 
        firearm or ammunition to another person in furtherance of a 
        lawful transfer or disposition.
    ``(b) Civil Penalties and Private Cause of Action.--Any person who 
knowingly violates or authorizes, consents to, or permits, directly or 
indirectly, either alone or in conjunction with any other person, a 
violation of subsection (a) is liable--
            ``(1) to the United States Government for a civil penalty 
        in the amount of $10,000 for each violation; and
            ``(2) to a shipper or consignee who has been harmed by such 
        violation for all compensatory and consequential damages 
        suffered by such shipper or consignee.
    ``(c) Actions of Agents and Employees.--When acting in the scope of 
their employment, the actions and omissions of persons acting for or 
employed by a motor carrier that is subject to this section are 
considered to be the actions and omissions of such motor carrier as 
well as such person.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Ammunition.--The term `ammunition' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 921(a)(17)(A) of title 18.
            ``(2) Component parts of firearm or ammunition.--The term 
        `component part of firearm or ammunition' means a component 
        part of, or an accessory intended for use with, a firearm or 
        ammunition, including ammunition magazines or clips, optical 
        devices, or other products intended to be included in, attached 
        to, or used while attached to, or in conjunction with, a 
        firearm or ammunition.
            ``(3) Firearms.--The term `firearm' has the meaning given 
        such term in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 921(a)(3) 
        of title 18, including any antique firearm (as such term is 
        defined in section 921(a)(16) of such title).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 14917 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``14917. Interference with lawful transportation of arms.''.
    (c) Repeal.--Section 1715 of chapter 83 of title 18, United States 
Code (and the item relating to such section in the analysis of such 
chapter), is repealed.
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