War on Drug Smuggling Act of 1986
Latest action. Referred to subcommitteeA smaller panel inside a standing committee with jurisdiction over a slice of its subject matter. Most hearings and the first markup usually happen here.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) on Investigations.
War on Drug Smuggling Act of 1986 - Directs the Secretary of Defense, upon request from the head of any specified special law enforcement agency, to make available to that agency such military equipment and personnel as necessary for the detection of the unlawful transport of any controlled substance across the international boundaries of the United States and the interdiction in the United States of such unlawful transport. Specifies the authority limits of any military personnel so assigned. Requires the heads of the special law enforcement agencies involved, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to meet with the Secretary of Defense and the National Guard Bureau to develop plans for the coordination of such controlled substance detection and interdiction activities. Directs the Secretary to invite the chief law enforcement official of each State to such meeting. Defines "special law enforcement agency" and "controlled substance" for purposes of this Act. Amends Federal criminal law concerning obstruction of justice to make unlawful the patrolling of a place with a firearm with the intent or purpose of enforcing U.S. immigration or customs laws without the permission of an officer of the United States. Requires the Attorney General to issue guidelines specifying the circumstances under which such permission might be granted. Outlines penalties for persons violating such provision.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on July 24, 1986. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on August 4, 1986: Referred to Subcommittee on Investigations.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 99th Congress (1985-86), 666 of the 9,885 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 6.7 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JOHN BRYANT (D-TX) introduced it on July 24, 1986. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on July 24, 1986, 14705 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 14694 days ago, on August 4, 1986.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 99th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1987 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers