Thin Blue Line Act: The bill increases penalties for criminals who target law enforcement...The Thin Blue Line Act would expand this list to include state and local police, firefighters, and other first responders.
Increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders.
Occurrences
Evidence
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S.3366 (Back the Blue Act) was introduced 12/04/2025 and lists James C. Justice (R‑WV) as an original Senate cosponsor; latest action: read twice and referred to Senate Judiciary.
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Sponsor materials describe the bill's effect: creating new federal crimes and increasing penalties for killing, attempting to kill, or assaulting federal law enforcement, judges, and federally funded public safety officers (first responders).
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Back the Blue Act of 2025 S. 3366 Sponsor: Cornyn (R-TX) Cosponsors: 38 Republican cosponsors ... • 12/4/2025: Introduced in Senate; referred to Judiciary Committee
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Last Action Date Listed December 4, 2025 Action Mr. Cornyn ... Mr. Justice ... introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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Any person that violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 10 years or for life, or, if death results, shall be sentenced to not less than 30 years and not more than life, or may be punished by death.
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The defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized by law-- ... to be a firefighter or other first responder.
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Back the Blue Act of 2025 S. 3366 Sponsor: Cornyn (R-TX) Cosponsors: 38 Republican cosponsors § 2254 Rule 11 Most Recent Bill Text: https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s3366/ BILLS-119s3366is.pdf Summary: Would amend Rule 11 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases by adding: “Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall not apply to a proceeding under these rules in a case that is described in section 2254(j) of title 28, United States Code.” • 12/4/2025: Introduced in Senate; referred to Judiciary Committee
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Last Action Date Listed December 4, 2025 Action Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Budd, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Daines, Ms. Ernst, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagerty, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Justice, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lee, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Young, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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``(c) Penalty.--Any person that violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 10 years or for life, or, if death results, shall be sentenced to not less than 30 years and not more than life, or may be punished by death.''.
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``(17) Killing of a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, judge, or first responder.--The defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized by law-- ``(A) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, or investigation of any criminal violation of law; ``(B) to arrest, prosecute, or adjudicate an individual for any criminal violation of law; or ``(C) to be a firefighter or other first responder.''.
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Thin Blue Line Act: The bill increases penalties for criminals who target law enforcement. Federal law already makes the targeting, killing or attempted killing of federal law enforcement officers, judges, and correctional officers an aggravating factor in the decision whether to impose the federal death penalty. The Thin Blue Line Act would expand this list to include state and local police, firefighters, and other first responders.
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Last Action Date Listed December 4, 2025 Action Mr. Cornyn ... Mr. Justice ... introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Assessments
Justice was an original cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act, which would have increased penalties for offenses targeting law enforcement and first responders, but the evidence shows the bill was only introduced and referred to committee with no further action or enactment. That is a serious legislative attempt, but the promised policy change was not delivered.
James C. Justice cosponsored S.3366 (Back the Blue Act) on 2025-12-04, legislation that would create new federal crimes and increase penalties for killing, attempting to kill, or assaulting law enforcement, judges, and federally funded public safety officers (including firefighters/first responders), which aligns with the campaign promise. However, as of 2026-04-16 the bill had only been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee with no further committee or floor action and was not enacted. Because the promise was not enacted into law but Justice made a concrete legislative effort (cosponsorship of a bill directly implementing the promise), the outcome is judged as not delivered (never) with an effort badge assigned. Delivery timing is unknown since the measure has not advanced and future enactment is uncertain.