Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 9, 2017

Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include in the national instant criminal background check system (i.e., the NICS database) information about an individual who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation.

A federal department or agency must submit to DOJ information about such individual.

Additionally, if a licensed gun dealer requests a background check on a prospective gun buyer who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation, then the NICS database must notify the appropriate division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the request and the pending firearm transfer.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

Judiciary Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jan 9, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 9, 2017
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 · Jan 9, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 3058 · A bill to require that certain information relating to terrorism investigations be included in the NICS database, and for other purposes.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.72 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.72, 115th Congress: Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/72

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-01-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s72/BILLS-115s72is.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.72 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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Examine S.72 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.72, 115th Congress: Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/72

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-01-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s72/BILLS-115s72is.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.72 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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Examine S.72 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.72, 115th Congress: Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/72

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-01-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s72/BILLS-115s72is.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.72 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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View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.72, 115th Congress: Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/72

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-01-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s72/BILLS-115s72is.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.72 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.