Sergeant Steve Owen Defending Our Defenders Act
This bill adds a new section to federal law making murder of law enforcement officers a capital offense. It mandates death or life imprisonment for individuals who murder federal officers during official duties, or state/local officers when the crime involves interstate activity (like using a weapon that crossed state lines). Key provisions include specific aggravating factors considered for sentencing, such as ambush tactics, prior violent advocacy, or ties to extremist groups. The bill explicitly states it does not affect state court jurisdiction over such cases.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 17, 2023
Last action Mar 17, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 17, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Mar 17, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 23 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mike Garcia
RRepublican
Co
Andy Harris
RRepublican
Co
Barry Moore
RRepublican
Co
Carlos A. Gimenez
RRepublican
Co
Claudia Tenney
RRepublican
Co
Clay Higgins
RRepublican
Co
Dan Bishop
RRepublican
Co
Dan Newhouse
RRepublican
Co
Darrell Issa
RRepublican
Co
David G. Valadao
RRepublican
Co
Derrick Van Orden
RRepublican
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