Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Barry Moore (AL-01) introduced the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act, with Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and David Kustoff (TN-08) to finally give federal prosecutors the tools they need to go after violent carjackers across America. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is leading an identical bill in the United States Senate. Current federal law requires prosecutors to prove that a criminal intended to kill or seriously injure someone during a carjacking - an unnecessarily high and outdated bar that has let violent offenders slip through the cracks. This bill removes this burdensome requirement and replaces it with a practical “knowingly” standard, aligning federal law with most state statutes and restoring Congress’s original intent from the 1994 Crime Bill. “Carjackings have increased across the country, particularly in our Nation's capital, and families are paying the price for Washington’s failure to address this growing problem,” said Congressman Barry Moore (AL-01). “Federal prosecutors shouldn’t have to read minds to put dangerous criminals behind bars. I thank Reps. Cuellar and Kustoff for partnering with me to restore common sense to the law by removing a decades-old drafting error that has handcuffed law enforcement and emboldened offenders. Every American deserves to know they can drive to work, church, or school safely, and this bipartisan legislation brings us one step closer to restoring law and order.” "Our bipartisan bill fixes a longstanding error in federal law that’s made it harder to go after dangerous carjackers, and I want to thank my friend and colleague from Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore, for working with me on this effort," said Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28). "I’m focused on the rise in violent crime that families are seeing across the country. I want to make sure law enforcement has the resources they need to respond to these trends and keep our communities safe. I’ll keep fighting for stronger public safety laws that support our communities." "Carjackings are rising across the country, and the families I represent deserve a justice system that can actually hold violent offenders accountable. Right now, federal prosecutors have to prove a carjacker intended to cause death or serious harm, which blocks cases that should move forward," said Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10). "The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act fixes that by replacing the old hurdle with a commonsense “knowingly” standard so law enforcement can finally do its job. I’m proud to support this bill as an original cosponsor to give prosecutors the tools they need to put these offenders away." "I am thankful for the opportunity to cosponsor the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act. As carjackings continue to rise across the country, this bill will support our prosecutors in pursuing federal charges." said Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03). "The DC City Council has relegated the people’s capital into a crime ridden nightmare," said Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05). "Add to that the affront to justice carried out by soft on crime judges and a corrupt mayor. Thanks to patriots like Barry Moore and Donald Trump, the tide is turning. This legislation will make sure that my staffers, my family, and my constituents are protected from violent carjackers enabled by Democrats." “Many violent carjackers have been able to avoid prosecution due to a federal loophole in the 1994 Crime Bill. By replacing the unrealistic intent requirement with a more practical ‘knowingly’ standard, these criminals will be held accountable and victims can get the justice they deserve. I’m thankful for Congressman Moore’s leadership on this issue, and I’m looking forward to supporting this bill on the House floor.” said Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06) The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act: - Removes the outdated “intent to cause death or serious bodily harm” requirement and replaces it with a “knowingly” standard that prosecutors can actually prove.
- Keeps enhanced penalties in cases where the offender truly intended to kill or cause serious harm.
- Aligns federal carjacking law with most states, promoting consistency and stronger enforcement nationwide.
- Ensures Congress’s original intent to empower, not restrict, federal prosecutors is finally implemented.
The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs, the National District Attorneys Association, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Initial cosponsors include Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), David Kustoff (R-TN), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Michael Guest (R-MS), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Mark Harris (R-NC), John Rutherford (R-FL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), John McGuire (R-VA), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Max Miller (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), and Clay Higgins (R-LA) |
