[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6444-S6445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Booker, 
        Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Murphy):
  S. 5209. A bill to require the Attorney General to make publicly 
available a list of federally licensed firearms dealers with a high 
number of short time-to-crime firearm traces, and to prohibit Federal 
departments and agencies from contracting with such dealers; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Clean Hands 
Firearm Procurement Act.
  This legislation addresses a critical need to ensure that Federal 
resources do not inadvertently support gun dealers whose business 
practices may contribute to the proliferation of firearms used in 
criminal activities.
  The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act would withhold Federal 
contracts from Federal firearm, licensees, FFLs, who have been listed 
in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' AFT Demand 
2 Program twice in the preceding 3 calendar years.

[[Page S6445]]

The Demand 2 Program targets gun dealers who have sold 25 or more 
firearms within a year that are subsequently traced to crimes within 3 
years of their sale.
  Under this act, dealers identified under the Demand 2 Program will be 
prohibited from entering into Federal contracts for a period of 3 years 
following their last appearance on the list. However, the Attorney 
General would have the discretion to waive this prohibition for the 
Departments of Defense and Homeland Security if it is deemed necessary 
to protect national security.
  Over the past two decades, the ATF's Demand 2 Program has been 
instrumental in identifying gun dealers whose sales practices may be 
contributing to the diversion of firearms to criminal activities. While 
the vast majority of an FFLs operate responsibly, a small fraction--
about 2 percent--of these dealers have been shown to be a significant 
source of crime guns.
       Between 202l and 2023, only approximately 1,500 of the 
     Nation's 75,000-plus FFLs were subject to the Demand 2 
     Program. This small group of dealers has a disproportionate 
     impact on gun violence in our communities. It is deeply 
     troubling that some of these dealers have continued to 
     receive lucrative Federal contracts despite their track 
     record.
       The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act aims to incentivize 
     better business practices among gun dealers by ensuring that 
     those with a history of contributing to gun violence through 
     irresponsible sales are not rewarded with Federal contracts. 
     This bill is a critical step towards reducing gun violence 
     and ensuring that Federal procurement practices do not 
     inadvertently support the diversion of firearms to criminal 
     activities.
       Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and 
     our government has a responsibility to ensure that its 
     resources are used to promote public safety, not undermine 
     it. By passing this legislation, we can take meaningful 
     action to address the gun violence epidemic that continues to 
     plague our Nation.
       Public safety is paramount, and this bill represents an 
     important measure to strengthen our efforts in combating the 
     illegal use of firearms. I look forward to working with my 
     colleagues to pass the Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act as 
     swiftly as possible.
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