This year, I’ll continue working to support law enforcement, strengthen border security and advance my Thin Blue Line Act to increase penalties on the criminals who attack law enforcement officers.
Support law enforcement, strengthen border security, and advance the Thin Blue Line Act to increase penalties for attacks on law enforcement officers.
Occurrences
the Department of Justice formally endorsed Buchanan's Thin Blue Line Act, which would strengthen federal penalties for killing or targeting law enforcement officers and first responders
Evidence
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Congressman Vern Buchanan said the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice formally endorsed his Thin Blue Line Act, which would strengthen federal penalties for criminals who murder or target law enforcement officers and first responders.
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The House bill text shows Buchanan introduced H.R. 378 on January 14, 2025 and it was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, with the latest action remaining referral.
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Congress.gov lists H.R. 378 as introduced on 2025-01-14 and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary; the bill status remains Introduced and no later House or Senate action is shown.
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GovInfo lists H.R. 378 as introduced by Vern Buchanan and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, with the bill version marked Introduced in House.
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Buchanan announced new bipartisan support for H.R. 378 and renewed calls to pass the Thin Blue Line Act; DOJ said it supported the bill.
Assessments
Buchanan materially advanced the Thin Blue Line Act by introducing H.R. 378 in the 119th Congress and continuing same-term advocacy, including securing DOJ support and additional cosponsors. But the official bill status remains only introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, with no House passage, Senate passage, enactment, or implemented penalty increase. The promised statutory outcome was therefore not delivered, though there was a serious legislative effort.
Buchanan made a serious same-term effort on the most specific part of the promise by introducing H.R. 378, the Thin Blue Line Act, and obtaining executive-branch support for it. But the official bill record shows the measure remained at the introduced-and-referred stage with no enactment and no evidence that the promised penalty increase became law. The broader promise language about supporting law enforcement and strengthening border security is also not shown here to have produced a completed federal outcome. Under the federal office standard, this is an attempted but undelivered promise rather than a delivered or partial result.
Buchanan materially advanced the promise by sponsoring H.R. 378, the Thin Blue Line Act, on January 14, 2025, and securing/announcing Justice Department support in March 2026. However, the official Congress.gov record still lists the bill only as introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, with no passage or enactment. Because the promised statutory increase in penalties has not been delivered, but there was a serious legislative effort during the same federal term, this should be scored as not delivered with an effort badge.