OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 12, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. Tenney. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

It is about time that we support the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De- Escalate Act. This crucial legislation ensures that law enforcement officers have access to the best, less-than-lethal technologies for de- escalation.

Under current law, certain new less-than-lethal technologies are included under the National Firearms Act, NFA, a law designed to regulate firearms. However, due to the definition of firearms under the NFA, this includes less-than-lethal devices such as the new TASER 10. This bill will modernize the NFA to include the less-than-lethal category to ensure that devices like the TASER 10, that are not designated to be lethal, are not included under the NFA's taxes and regulations design for firearms for use by municipalities, not individuals.

I am honored to be a cosponsor of this bill along with, I think, at least 22 commonsense Democrats, and I strongly supported its passage through the House Ways and Means committee.

However, I am disappointed that so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to support this commonsense bill. Instead, they want to politicize and talk about completely unrelated matters.

While some on the other side resort to fear-mongering, House Republicans and, as I said 22, I believe, commonsense Democrats, are committed to ensuring law enforcement has the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.

Every major police organization is supporting the passage of this legislation, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Major County Sheriffs Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. This is a pro-police, pro-community, and lifesaving piece of legislation.

I urge the Senate to vote on this bill expediently. I thank Representative Fitzgerald, Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, and, of course, Chairman Smith for bringing this bill to the floor.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward