Luján, Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Carjacking Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statements after their Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This legislation would make a long overdue fix to the federal carjacking statute, empowering prosecutors to hold more offenders accountable.  

“The Albuquerque area continues to rank among the top cities for carjackings. This is unacceptable and puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk,” said Senator Luján. “It is a positive step that legislation to give prosecutors the tools they need to hold carjackers accountable and keep our communities safe has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I’m committed to advancing this legislation and ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to protect our communities.”

“We need to make it easier for federal prosecutors to combat and prevent carjackings,” said Senator Blackburn. “My Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would make our streets safer for Tennesseans and all Americans by fixing a broken statute that has hindered federal prosecutors from holding carjacking offenders accountable. I am pleased that this important legislation is one step closer to becoming a law.”

The current federal carjacking statute requires prosecutors to prove defendants had an “intent to cause death or bodily harm,” which has made it harder to bring federal carjacking prosecutions and accounts for the decrease in federal carjacking prosecutions in certain parts of the country. The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would fix this drafting error by requiring prosecutors only have to prove the knowing taking of a motor vehicle. In cases in which death results following a carjacking, the bill would maintain the higher “intent to cause death or bodily harm” requirement.

The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act is endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the National Association of Police Organizations, National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Barry Moore (R-Ala.).

Click here for bill text.

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