{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://barrymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-barry-moore-introduces-bipartisan-federal-carjacking-enforcement-act-crack", "Rep. Barry Moore introduces bipartisan Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act to crack down on violent criminals", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Barry Moore", "M001212", "barrymoore.house.gov", "barrymoore", "https://barrymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "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.\n\nCurrent 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to prove that a criminal intended to kill or seriously injure someone during a carjacking - an unnecessarily high and outdated bar that has let violent offenders slip through the cracks.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 \u201cknowingly\u201d standard, aligning federal law with most state statutes and restoring Congress\u2019s original intent from the 1994 Crime Bill.\n\n\u201cCarjackings have increased across the country, particularly in our Nation's capital, and families are paying the price for Washington\u2019s failure to address this growing problem,\u201d said Congressman Barry Moore (AL-01). \u201cFederal prosecutors shouldn\u2019t 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.\u201d\n\n\"Our bipartisan bill fixes a longstanding error in federal law that\u2019s 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\u2019m 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\u2019ll keep fighting for stronger public safety laws that support our communities.\"\n\n\"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 \u201cknowingly\u201d standard so law enforcement can finally do its job. I\u2019m proud to support this bill as an original cosponsor to give prosecutors the tools they need to put these offenders away.\"\n\n\"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).\n\n\"The DC City Council has relegated the people\u2019s 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.\"\n\n\u201cMany 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 \u2018knowingly\u2019 standard, these criminals will be held accountable and victims can get the justice they deserve. I\u2019m thankful for Congressman Moore\u2019s leadership on this issue, and I\u2019m looking forward to supporting this bill on the House floor.\u201d said Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06)\n\nThe Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act:\n\nRemoves the outdated \u201cintent to cause death or serious bodily harm\u201d requirement and replaces it with a \u201cknowingly\u201d standard that prosecutors can actually prove.\n\nKeeps enhanced penalties in cases where the offender truly intended to kill or cause serious harm.\n\nAligns federal carjacking law with most states, promoting consistency and stronger enforcement nationwide.\n\nEnsures Congress\u2019s original intent to empower, not restrict, federal prosecutors is finally implemented.\n\nThe 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.\n\nInitial 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)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://barrymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-barry-moore-introduces-bipartisan-federal-carjacking-enforcement-act-crack"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0795299895107746, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}