[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2698 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2698
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of
Homeland Security to bolster security against threats posed by ghost
guns, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2025
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California,
Mr. Swalwell, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Correa, Mr. Thanedar, Mr.
Magaziner, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Kennedy of New
York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Hernandez, Ms. Pou, Mr.
Carter of Louisiana, and Mr. Garcia of California) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of
Homeland Security to bolster security against threats posed by ghost
guns, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bolstering Security Against Ghost
Guns Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY POLICY TO BOLSTER SECURITY
AGAINST THREATS POSED BY GHOST GUNS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 890E. POLICY TO BOLSTER SECURITY AGAINST THREATS POSED BY GHOST
GUNS.
``(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Under
Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Department, shall
issue a Department-wide strategy to bolster security against threats
posed by ghost guns, in order to improve prevention, preparedness, and
response to homeland security threats, such as an act of terrorism or
targeted violence, associated with ghost guns. Such strategy shall
identify the following activities:
``(1) Across the Department related to ghost guns and
approaches to enhance cross-component information sharing and
collaboration.
``(2) With Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial
partners related to ghost guns and approaches to enhance the
Department's collaboration with such partners.
``(b) Cross-Border Threats.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary for Intelligence
and Analysis of the Department, in coordination with the Commissioner
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, and the heads of other appropriate Federal
partners, shall develop and disseminate a homeland security threat
assessment regarding cross-border threats associated with United
States-sourced ghost guns and partially complete frames and receivers,
with special attention to ghost guns and partially complete frames and
receivers used by transnational criminal organizations involved in
illicit activity that pose a security threat to the border.
``(c) United States Secret Service Activities.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of
the United States Secret Service, acting through the Chief of the
National Threat Assessment Center, in coordination with appropriate
Federal partners, shall carry out research and issue public reports
that provide guidance regarding how to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to homeland security threats, such as an act of terrorism or
targeted violence, associated with ghost guns.
``(d) Transportation Security Administration Activities.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and
annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate regarding the number of violations of
subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, and any other incidents involving the unauthorized
carriage of a firearm at a passenger screening checkpoint, including
information regarding which such violations and incidents during the
period of time covered by each such report were committed by
individuals while receiving expedited screening, which were repeat
offenses, and which involved a ghost gun. Such reporting shall also
include information regarding trends in the rates of violations and
incidents on a per passenger basis, as well as a description of
Transportation Security Administration efforts during the period of
time covered by each such report to increase public awareness of the
prohibition described in such subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(e) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Activities.--Not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section,
the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, acting
through the Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security
Investigations, shall, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection and appropriate Federal partners, carry
out the following:
``(1) Prepare an analysis that includes data from the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other
Federal partners regarding homeland security threats, including
border security threats, and cross-border illicit smuggling
trends and patterns associated with United States-sourced
firearms, including ghost guns, recovered in Mexico.
``(2) Research and develop a mechanism to share aggregated
Federal information regarding United States-sourced firearms,
including ghost guns, recovered in Mexico in support of
carrying out the strategy under subsection (a).
``(3) Develop performance measures to assess the
effectiveness of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
activities aimed at combatting homeland security threats,
including border security threats, and illicit cross-border
activities involving United States-sourced firearms, including
ghost guns.
``(f) Office of Intelligence and Analysis Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter,
the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the
Department, in consultation with the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, shall develop a report assessing
homeland security threats of ghost guns and partially complete
frames and receivers associated with a foreign terrorist
organization or other individual in furtherance of an act of
terrorism or targeted violence. Each such report shall--
``(A) assess the range of sources for acquiring,
manufacturing, and trafficking ghost guns and partially
complete frames and receivers;
``(B) identify each type of homeland security
threat associated with ghost guns and partially
complete frames and receivers; and
``(C) specify the level of threat associated with
each threat identified pursuant to paragraph (2).
``(2) Dissemination of reports.--Consistent with the
protection of classified and confidential unclassified
information, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis
shall--
``(A) submit the initial report required under
paragraph (1) to Federal, State, local, Tribal, and
territorial law enforcement officials, including
officials who operate within State, local, and regional
fusion centers under the Department of Homeland
Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center
Initiative established by section 210A; and
``(B) submit each report required under paragraph
(1) to the appropriate congressional committees.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Act of terrorism.--The term `act of terrorism' has
the meaning given such term in section 3077 of title 18, United
States Code.
``(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, the Committee on Homeland Security, and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence, the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate.
``(3) Domestic terrorism.--The term `domestic terrorism'
has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of title 18,
United States Code.
``(4) Firearm.--The term `firearm' has the meaning given
such term in section 921 of title 18, United States Code.
``(5) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term `foreign
terrorist organization' means an organization designated as a
foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
``(6) Ghost gun.--The term `ghost gun' has the meaning
given the term `privately made firearm' in section 478.11 of
title 27, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(7) Targeted violence.--The term `targeted violence' has
the meaning given such term in section 6418 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-
81; 6 U.S.C. 124h-1).
``(8) Partially complete frame or receiver.--The term
`partially complete frame or receiver' means a partially
complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receiver, as
such term is described in section 478.12(c) of title 27, Code
of Federal Regulations.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 890D the following new item:
``Sec. 890E. Policy to bolster security against threats posed by ghost
guns.''.
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