[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 96 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2754. Mr. HATCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:
SEC. __. CRIMES TARGETING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers
``(a) In General.--Whoever, in any circumstance described
in subsection (b), knowingly causes bodily injury to any
person, or attempts to do so, because of the actual or
perceived status of the person as a law enforcement officer--
``(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in
accordance with this title, or both; and
``(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for
life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--
``(A) death results from the offense; or
``(B) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to
kidnap, or an attempt to kill.
``(b) Circumstances Described.--For purposes of subsection
(a), the circumstances described in this subparagraph are
that--
``(1) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during
the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the
defendant or the victim--
``(A) across a State line or national border; or
``(B) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of
interstate or foreign commerce;
``(2) the defendant uses a channel, facility, or
instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in
connection with the conduct described in subsection (a);
``(3) in connection with the conduct described in
subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, dangerous
weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that
has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; or
``(4) the conduct described in subsection (a)--
``(A) interferes with commercial or other economic activity
in which the victim is engaged at the time of the conduct; or
``(B) otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.
``(c) Certification Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--No prosecution of any offense described
in this section may be undertaken by the United States,
except under the certification in writing of the Attorney
General, or a designee, that--
``(A) the State does not have jurisdiction;
``(B) the State has requested that the Federal Government
assume jurisdiction;
``(C) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State
charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal
interest in protecting the public safety; or
``(D) a prosecution by the United States is in the public
interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to limit the authority of Federal
officers, or a Federal grand jury, to investigate possible
violations of this section.
``(d) Guidelines.--All prosecutions conducted by the United
States under this section shall be undertaken pursuant to
guidelines issued by the Attorney General, or the designee of
the Attorney General, to be included in the United States
Attorneys' Manual that shall establish neutral and objective
criteria for determining whether a crime was committed
because of the actual or perceived status of any person.
``(e) Statute of Limitations.--
``(1) Offenses not resulting in death.--Except as provided
in paragraph (2), no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or
punished for any offense under this section unless the
indictment for such offense is found, or the information for
such offense is instituted, not later than 7 years after the
date on which the offense was committed.
``(2) Offenses resulting in death.--An indictment or
information alleging that an offense under this section
resulted in death may be found or instituted at any time
without limitation.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Law enforcement officer.--The term `law enforcement
officer' means an employee of a governmental or public agency
who is authorized by law--
``(A) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention,
investigation, or the incarceration of any person for any
criminal violation of law; and
``(B) to apprehend or arrest a person for any criminal
violation of law.
``(2) State.--The term `State' includes the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession
of the United States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers.''.
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