CLEAR Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8026
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T14:46:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8026 (CLEAR Act)
Purpose
This legislation amends federal criminal law to create enhanced penalties for obstructing or assaulting certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) officers when a vehicle is involved or when officers are operating in a law enforcement vehicle.
Key Provisions
- Short title: Criminalizing Law Enforcement Access Restriction Act (CLEAR Act).
- Amendment to 18 U.S.C. § 111: Redesignates existing subsection (c) as subsection (e).
- New subsection (c) – Enhanced Penalty for Use of a Vehicle: Imposes a fine or up to 20 years imprisonment (or both) on anyone who uses a vehicle to forcibly assault, resist, intimidate, or interfere with a federal law enforcement officer from DHS or DOJ while the officer is performing official duties.
- New subsection (d) – Enhanced Penalty for Obstructing a Federal Law Enforcement Vehicle: Imposes the same penalties on anyone who forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with a DHS or DOJ officer while the officer is performing official duties inside a federal law enforcement vehicle.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands 18 U.S.C. § 111 (which currently addresses assaulting or impeding federal officers) by adding vehicle-specific offenses with a maximum penalty of 20 years.
- Limits the new provisions to officers from only DHS and DOJ, rather than applying broadly to all federal officers.
- Introduces distinct penalties tied to the use of a vehicle or the location of the officer inside a vehicle, which were not previously specified in this section.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Strengthens deterrence against interference with DHS and DOJ operations, particularly those involving vehicles such as border security, immigration enforcement, or federal investigations.
- Citizens: Increases potential criminal liability for actions that block or obstruct law enforcement vehicles, which could affect protest activities or other encounters with federal officers.
- International relations: No direct provisions affect foreign policy or international obligations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal law enforcement officers and agencies within DHS and DOJ.
- Individuals or groups engaging in activities that could be interpreted as obstructing federal vehicles or officers.
- Federal courts and prosecutors responsible for enforcing the new penalties.
- Congress, through its role in defining federal criminal offenses.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Raises the maximum sentence for specified conduct from existing levels under 18 U.S.C. § 111 to 20 years, creating a more severe federal offense.
- May intersect with First Amendment considerations if applied to protests or demonstrations involving vehicle blockades, though the bill focuses solely on forcible actions.
- Applies only to forcible conduct, not passive obstruction, and is limited to specific federal agencies rather than all law enforcement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Criminalizing Law Enforcement Access Restriction Act — issued 2026-03-19 — PDF (2 pages)