Protect Law Enforcement Task Forces Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4004
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T17:22:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation authorizes the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) to combat transnational organized crime and reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the United States through a prosecutor-led, multi-agency enforcement approach.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: "Protect Law Enforcement Task Forces Act."
- Findings: Outlines OCDETF's history since 1982, its structure involving over 500 federal prosecutors and thousands of agents, its role in intelligence sharing, and its financial returns such as $524 million in seizures in fiscal year 2022.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms including "covered agency" (Treasury, Homeland Security, Postal Service, Labor, and State Departments), OCDETF, OCDETF Fusion Center, and the Task Forces.
- Interagency Task Force: Directs the Attorney General, through the OCDETF Director, to structure the program within 180 days of enactment, in coordination with the Department of Justice and covered agencies.
- Report Requirement: Mandates a joint report on the Task Forces' successes within one year, submitted to Senate and House committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Appropriations; the report must be unclassified where possible and publicly posted.
- Sunset: The Act expires on January 20, 2029.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Codifies the OCDETF program, previously established by executive announcement in 1982, into statutory law.
- Adds new requirements for formal structuring, interagency coordination, and congressional reporting.
- Introduces a time-limited sunset provision not present in the original executive framework.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires enhanced coordination among the Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and covered agencies, potentially increasing resource sharing and intelligence efforts.
- Citizens: Aims to disrupt criminal networks, leading to more arrests and seizures that could lower crime rates and drug availability in U.S. communities.
- International Relations: Involves the Department of State in addressing transnational crime, which may affect cooperation with foreign entities on narcotics and money laundering.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and other covered departments.
- Congressional committees responsible for oversight and funding.
- Federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel involved in task forces.
- Communities and individuals impacted by organized crime and illicit narcotics.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The statutory authorization and sunset date create a temporary framework that may require future congressional action for continuation, raising questions of legislative oversight.
- Emphasizes multi-agency collaboration, which could involve expanded information sharing with potential implications for privacy and interagency authority.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protect Law Enforcement Task Forces Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (6 pages)