HCONRES 40 United States House · 118th Congress

Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies.

This symbolic resolution (HCONRES 40) expresses congressional support for local law enforcement officers and condemns calls to defund, disband, dismantle, or abolish police departments. It does not create new laws or affect budgets; instead, it formally recognizes officers' work and opposes rhetoric advocating for reduced police funding. The resolution cites 2020 crime statistics and claims about defunding leading to increased violence as context for its stance. It directly addresses public discourse and congressional position, not policy implementation.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
May 2023
House Passage
May 2023
Senate Passage
President
Introduced May 5, 2023 Last action May 30, 2023
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House Engrossed in House · 4 edits · May 18, 2023
MODERATE
The engrossed version significantly expands the resolution by adding a detailed 'Bill of Rights' for local law enforcement officers in the context of misconduct investigations, including 10 specific procedural protections such as right to counsel, right to be informed of allegations before questioning, and protection against discipline for invoking the Fifth Amendment. The original bill was a brief expression of support for police; the engrossed version transforms it into a resolution that also sets out specific standards for how officers should be treated during internal investigations and encourages states to adopt similar protections.
Scope change
Expanded from a general expression of support for local law enforcement to a resolution that also outlines specific procedural protections (a Bill of Rights) for officers during misconduct investigations and encourages states to adopt similar protections.
REQUIREMENT

Added 10 specific rights for local law enforcement officers during misconduct investigations, including right to self-defense, right to counsel at interviews, right to be informed of allegations before questioning, protection from offensive language or threats during questioning, right to a hearing with access to evidence, and right not to be disciplined for invoking the Fifth Amendment unless granted immunity.

SCOPE

Added a Whereas clause encouraging states across the country to adopt a Bill of Rights for local law enforcement personnel related to investigation and prosecution arising from official duties.

The resolution's scope expanded from a simple expression of support and condemnation of defunding to include specific procedural standards for officer investigations, making it a more prescriptive policy statement.

DEFINITION

Added a Whereas clause stating that calls to defund, disband, dismantle, or abolish the police should be condemned and rule of law should be strictly maintained, elevating this from an operative clause to a stated principle.

Floor votes · House May 18, 2023

How they voted

301119
Passed · 14 other
Total votes 434
May 18, 2023
D Democratic213
87 Yea 117 Nay 9
54% Nay
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican220
213 Yea 2 Nay 5
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 30, 2023
Committee
Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
May 18, 2023
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 301 - 119, 3 Present (Roll no. 227).
lower
May 18, 2023
Introduced
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the D'Esposito Amendment No. 1.
lower
May 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
Rule H. Res. 398 passed House.
lower
May 15, 2023
Lower · Passed
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 398 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2494, H.R. 3091 and H. Con. Res. 40. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2494 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate; H.R. 3091 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate; and H.Con.Res. 40 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 2494 and H.R. 3091.
lower
May 15, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-57.
lower
May 10, 2023
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
lower
May 5, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
May 5, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors