To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that Federal, State, and local agencies to which surplus military equipment and personal property is sold or donated demonstrate that agency personnel are certified, trained, or licensed, as appropriate, in the proper operation of the equipment prior to the sale or donation.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 6, 2015

Directs the Secretary of Defense to require state or local law enforcement, firefighting, homeland security, or emergency management agencies that purchase surplus military equipment to demonstrate, as a condition of the sale, that agency personnel have been certified, trained, or licensed in the proper operation of such equipment.

Prohibits the Secretary from transferring or donating excess Department of Defense personal property to law enforcement or firefighting agencies unless the recipient agency demonstrates that personnel have received such certification, training, or licensing.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Jolly, David W. [R-FL-13] · R–FL

Committees

Armed Services Committee

4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 5, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
Jan 6, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Jan 6, 2015
Introduced in House
Jan 6, 2015
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 6, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.139 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.139, 114th Congress: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that Federal, State, and local agencies to which surplus military equipment and personal property is sold or donated demonstrate that agency personnel are certified, trained, or licensed, as appropriate, in the proper operation of the equipment prior to the sale or donation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/139

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2015-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr139/BILLS-114hr139ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.139 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.139 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.139, 114th Congress: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that Federal, State, and local agencies to which surplus military equipment and personal property is sold or donated demonstrate that agency personnel are certified, trained, or licensed, as appropriate, in the proper operation of the equipment prior to the sale or donation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/139

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2015-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr139/BILLS-114hr139ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.139 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.139 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.139, 114th Congress: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that Federal, State, and local agencies to which surplus military equipment and personal property is sold or donated demonstrate that agency personnel are certified, trained, or licensed, as appropriate, in the proper operation of the equipment prior to the sale or donation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/139

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2015-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr139/BILLS-114hr139ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.139 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.139 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.139, 114th Congress: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that Federal, State, and local agencies to which surplus military equipment and personal property is sold or donated demonstrate that agency personnel are certified, trained, or licensed, as appropriate, in the proper operation of the equipment prior to the sale or donation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/139

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2015-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr139/BILLS-114hr139ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.139 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.