H.R. 1446 · 117th Congress · House

Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021

In Congress· Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 391.
Introduced
Mar 1, 21
Passed House
Mar 11, 21
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021

(Sec. 2) This bill revises background check requirements applicable to proposed firearm transfers from a federal firearms licensee (e.g., a licensed gun dealer) to an unlicensed person.

Specifically, it increases the amount of time, from 3 business days to a minimum of 10 business days, that a federal firearms licensee must wait to receive a completed background check prior to transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. (This type of transaction is often referred to as a default proceed transaction.)

If a submitted background check remains incomplete after 10 business days, then the prospective purchaser may submit a petition for a final firearms eligibility determination. If an additional 10 days elapse without a final determination, then the federal firearms licensee may transfer the firearm to the prospective purchaser.

(Sec. 3) The Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which the changes have prevented firearms transfers to prohibited persons.

(Sec. 4) The Federal Bureau of Investigation must report on the number of petitions it receives for final federal firearms determinations.

(Sec. 5) The Department of Justice, in consultation with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, must report on further amendments to the background check process that would likely reduce the risk of death or great bodily harm to victims of domestic violence, domestic abuse, dating partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Previous Versions

00Mar 1, 2021

Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021

This bill revises background check requirements applicable to proposed firearm transfers from a federal firearms licensee (e.g., a licensed gun dealer) to an unlicensed person.

Specifically, it increases the amount of time, from 3 business days to a minimum of 10 business days, that a federal firearms licensee must wait to receive a completed background check prior to transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. (This type of transaction is often referred to as a default proceed transaction.)

If a submitted background check remains incomplete after 10 business days, then the prospective purchaser may submit a petition for a final firearms eligibility determination. If an additional 10 days elapse without a final determination, then the federal firearms licensee may transfer the firearm to the prospective purchaser.

Action Timeline

24
  1. MAY 25, 2022Calendars

    Read the second time

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 391.

  2. MAY 24, 2022Calendars

    Read the first time

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

  3. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, the House resumed consideration of H.R. 1446.

  4. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H1332-1334)

    1332Yea
    1334Nay
    0NV
  5. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on agreeing to the motion to recommit H. R. 1446 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  6. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #76

    206 - 212 (Roll no. 76).

    206Yea
    212Nay
    0NV
  7. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #77

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 210 (Roll no. 77).(text: 3/10/2021 CR H1303)

    219Yea
    210Nay
    0NV
  8. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #77

    219 - 210 (Roll no. 77). (text: 3/10/2021 CR H1303)

    219Yea
    210Nay
    0NV
  9. MAR 11, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table

    Agreed to without objection.

  10. MAR 11, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  11. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 188. (consideration: CR H1303-1314)

    1303Yea
    1314Nay
    0NV
  12. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    842, H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446. Rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 842, H.R. 8, and H.R. 1446. The rule provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 842, H.R. 8, and H.R. 1446.

  13. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1446.

  14. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res

    188, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Nadler en bloc amendment No. 1.

  15. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table

    Agreed to without objection.

  16. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Hudson moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H1314)

  17. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.

  18. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hudson motion to recommit, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the motion to recommit and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hudson demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  19. MAR 10, 2021Floor

    Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 1446 is postponed.

  20. MAR 08, 2021Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 188 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 842, H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446. Rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 842, H.R. 8, and H.R. 1446. The rule provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 842, H.R. 8, and H.R. 1446.

  21. MAR 08, 2021Floor

    Rule H

    Res. 188 passed House.

  22. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  23. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  24. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Committees

1

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Mar 1, 2021

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