Steube, Burchett Introduce The CLEAR Act

WASHINGTON - Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) have introduced the Criminalizing Law Enforcement Access Restriction or CLEAR Act, legislation to impose enhanced penalties on rioters who obstruct federal law enforcement vehicles or weaponize civilian vehicles to attack officers.

"Violent rioters have been allowed to obstruct law enforcement, surround officers, and use vehicles as weapons without facing the full consequences under federal law," said Rep. Steube. "That ends now. If you go after federal law enforcement, you will be held accountable."

"Protestors who go out of their way to make law enforcement's job even harder, and those who put the men and women in uniform's lives at risk, deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The CLEAR Act solves that. I am proud to stand with my friend Rep. Stuebe in protecting the lives of our federal law enforcement officers." said Rep. Burchett.

The CLEAR Act amends Section 111 of Title 18 to ensure enhanced penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment apply to individuals who use a vehicle to assault, resist, or interfere with a federal law enforcement officer, or obstruct a federal law enforcement officer operating in a vehicle.

The legislation is supported by Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund.

"Over the past decade, more than 120 law enforcement officers including 3 federal agents have been killed in the line-of-duty by vehicular assaults and hundreds more seriously injured. Those that seek to kill, maim, or intimidate those that protect and serve our nation and our communities deserve swift and severe justice." -Jason Johnson, President, Law Enforcement Defense Fund

Background: Across our country, violent riots have increasingly included tactics designed to stop law enforcement from doing their jobs, including surrounding vehicles, blocking access routes, and using vehicles as weapons.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers are assaulted each year. The U.S. Department of Justice has charged hundreds of individuals in recent years for assaulting or impeding federal officers during periods of unrest.

Despite existing federal penalties for assaulting officers, gaps in current law have allowed bad actors to evade consequences when obstructing law enforcement vehicles or using vehicles as weapons. The CLEAR Act closes those loopholes and ensures these actions are met with the full force of federal law.

Read the bill text here.