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Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1985

Public Law 99-408 · H.R. 3132 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Aug 28, 1986 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor: Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-NY-19)

Cosponsors (113): Rep. William Hughes,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 104, roll call #28 (97-1))

Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor-piercing ammunition as projectiles constructed from specified material which may be used in handguns. Excludes from the definition: (1) shotgun shot required by Federal or State regulations for hunting; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; or (3) projectiles that the Secretary of the Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes or industrial use.

Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor-piercing ammunition. Allows for: (1) the manufacture or importation of armor-piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; (2) the manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation; and (3) the manufacture or importation for testing or experimentation authorized by the Secretary. Allows for the sale and delivery of armor-piercing ammunition for these purposes.

Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor-piercing ammunition.

Authorizes the Secretary to revoke any license issued to a dealer if such dealer willfully transfers armor-piercing ammunition.

Requires licensed importers and manufacturers to specially mark all armor-piercing projectiles and packages.

Imposes an additional mandatory sentence of not less than five years for any person who uses or carries a firearm and is in possession of armor-piercing ammunition during the commission of a crime of violence. Provides that such sentence shall not be suspended or probation or parole be granted.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.

  1. Aug 28, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-408.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Aug 20, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Aug 13, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments to Senate amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate amendments and House requests a conference.
  6. Aug 11, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Rodino, Hughes, Mazzoli, Morrison (CT), Feighan, Smith (FL), Staggers, Fish, McCollum, Lungren, Shaw, Gekas.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Insisted on its Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  9. Mar 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 104 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97-1. Record Vote No: 28.Senate roll call 28
  10. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  11. Dec 17, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 400 - 21 (Record Vote No: 465).House roll call 465
  12. Nov 6, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  13. Sep 10, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  14. Jul 31, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  15. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.