[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 110 (Thursday, June 26, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S3564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
        Booker, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, Mr. Kim, and Ms. 
        Duckworth):
  S. 2192. 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. Mr. 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' (ATF) Demand 
2 Program twice in the preceding 3 calendar years. 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 FFLs operate responsibly, a small fraction--about 
2 percent--of these dealers have been shown to be a significant source 
of crime guns.
  Between 2021 and 2023, only approximately 1,500 of the Nation's 
75,000+ 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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