[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 607 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 607
To provide procedures for appealing certain Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives rulings or determinations, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 22, 2025
Mr. Crenshaw (for himself, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Ms. Van
Duyne, and Mr. Van Orden) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide procedures for appealing certain Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives rulings or determinations, 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 ``ATF Accountability Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PROCEDURES FOR APPEALING CERTAIN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO,
FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES RULINGS OR DETERMINATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 923 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m)(1) If a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed
dealer transmits to the Attorney General a product classification
request or a written question regarding any regulatory matter,
including but not limited to the legal status or classification of a
product, regulated business practice, or a recordkeeping practice,
under any law administered, in whole or in part, by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Attorney General shall,
not later than 90 days after receipt of the request or question, make a
ruling or determination in writing on the question, and transmit the
ruling or determination to the licensee.
``(2)(A) Within 30 calendar days after receipt of a copy of the
ruling or determination, the licensee may appeal the ruling or
determination (or a cease and desist letter) by filing with any
Director of Industry Operations having jurisdiction over a premises of
the licensee subject to a license issued to the licensee under this
chapter a request for review of the ruling or determination, which
shall include a statement of the reasons for the appeal, and the relief
requested.
``(B) Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the request for the
appeal, the Director of Industry Operations shall render a decision on
the appeal in writing and transmit a copy of the decision to the
licensee.
``(3)(A) Notwithstanding whether the licensee appeals the ruling or
determination to the Director of Industry Operations, the licensee may,
within 75 calendar days after receipt of a copy of the initial ruling
or determination or, within 14 days after receipt of the determination
by the Director of Industry Operations, which ever is later, request
for the appeal to be determined on the record after opportunity for a
hearing before an administrative law judge. Upon such request the
administrative law judge shall--
``(i) set a time and place for a hearing on the appeal at a
location convenient to the licensee within 90 days from the
date of the request; and
``(ii) at least 10 days before the date set for the
hearing, serve on the licensee and the Director of Industry
Operations a notice of the hearing.
``(B) The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing
procedures prescribed in subsections (b) through (e) of section 556 and
section 557(d) of title 5.
``(C) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the
administrative law judge shall--
``(i) render a decision on the appeal, which shall consist
of--
``(I) a brief statement of the issues of fact
involved in the proceeding;
``(II) the findings and conclusions of the
administrative law judge, and the reasons or basis
therefor with record references, on all material issues
of fact, law, or discretion presented on the record;
and
``(III) the decision of the administrative law
judge to reverse or affirm the ruling or determination
involved;
``(ii) certify to the complete record of the proceeding;
``(iii) forward the complete certified record and a copy of
the decision to the Director of Industry Operations;
``(iv) serve a copy of the decision on the licensee or
counsel for the licensee; and
``(v) transmit a copy of the decision to the attorney
representing the United States in the proceeding.
``(4) The decision of the administrative law judge or the Director
of Industry Operations, or the ruling of another officer or employee of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as the case
may be, pursuant to this subsection shall--
``(A) constitute final agency action;
``(B) be subject to judicial review under chapter 7 of
title 5; and
``(C) be binding on the United States and the licensee.
``(5) The submission of an administrative appeal pursuant to
paragraph (2) or (3) shall postpone the effective date of the ruling or
determination until the administrative appeal and any subsequent
judicial process is complete. The effect shall be as if the ruling or
determination had not issued until such process is complete.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to determinations made before, on, or after the date
of enactment of this Act.
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