PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 23, 2020

Penalizing Radicals and Others who Thwart Emergency Care and Transportation for Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020 or the PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

This bill establishes a new criminal offense for preventing or attempting to prevent a law enforcement officer from accessing emergency medical services for an injury caused by a criminal act or incurred in the line of duty.

An individual who engages in this conduct is subject to criminal penalties--a fine, a prison term of up to 20 years, or both. If death results, the prison term may be for a term of any years or for life.

In a prosecution of this offense, the government is not required to prove that the defendant knew the law enforcement officer suffered an injury caused by a criminal act or incurred in the line of duty.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] · R–SC

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 23, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 23, 2020
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Sep 23, 2020 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: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.4662 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.

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Discuss S.4662, 116th Congress: PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4662

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4662/BILLS-116s4662is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. 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 S.4662 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 S.4662 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.

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Discuss S.4662, 116th Congress: PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4662

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4662/BILLS-116s4662is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. 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 S.4662 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 S.4662 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.

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Discuss S.4662, 116th Congress: PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4662

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4662/BILLS-116s4662is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. 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 S.4662 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 S.4662 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 S.4662, 116th Congress: PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4662

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4662/BILLS-116s4662is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. 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 S.4662 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.