[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4299. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 7147, making 
further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. _____. CIVIL ACTION FOR DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS.

       Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 
     (42 U.S.C. 1983) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Every'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In this section, the term `public employer' means a 
     Federal law enforcement agency that, at the time of a 
     deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities 
     described in section (b), employs, or contracts with an 
     individual to perform the duties of, a Federal law 
     enforcement officer or any other officer empowered by law to 
     execute searches, to seize evidence, or to make arrests.
       ``(b) Every'';
       (2) in subsection (b), as so designated, by inserting ``the 
     United States or'' before ``any State''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) If, while acting under color of law, any officer who 
     is empowered by law to execute searches, to seize evidence, 
     or to make arrests subjects or causes to be subjected any 
     citizen of the United States or other person within the 
     jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, 
     privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and 
     laws, the public employer of that officer shall be liable to 
     the party injured for the conduct of the officer in an action 
     at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for 
     redress, regardless of whether a policy or custom of the 
     public employer caused the violation, and regardless of 
     whether the officer has any defense or immunity from suit or 
     liability. This paragraph shall constitute a waiver of 
     sovereign immunity of the United States with respect to 
     Federal law enforcement agencies for any claim brought under 
     this section. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to 
     limit or preclude any legal, equitable, or other remedy that 
     is available, under this section or under any other source of 
     law, against an individual officer.''.
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