S 1572

Summary

Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act This bill lowers the threshold the government must meet to establish that a defendant committed a federal carjacking offense. Under current law, the federal carjacking statute prohibits taking (or attempting to take) a motor vehicle from the presence of another by force and violence or intimidation, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. This bill removes the requirement that a defendant take (or attempt to take) a motor vehicle with the specific intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. Under the bill, the government need only prove that a defendant took (or attempted to take) a motor vehicle knowingly. A violation (or attempted violation) is subject to the same criminal penalties as under current law—a fine, a prison term of up to 15 years, or both. A violation that results in death or serious bodily injury is subject to the same criminal penalties as under current law—a fine, a prison term of up to 25 years, or both—but only if the offense involves certain aggravating circumstances: (1) the motor vehicle is taken with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, or (2) a firearm is brandished or discharged during the offense.

Bill status

Status

Reported

Sponsor

Sen. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN]

Cosponsors

16

Policy area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Introduced

2025-05-01

Latest action

2026-05-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 404.

Committee referrals

• Judiciary Committee: Senate · Reported By · 2026-05-11
• Judiciary Committee: Senate · Markup By · 2026-04-30
• Judiciary Committee: Senate · Referred To · 2025-05-01

Recent actions

• 2026-05-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 404.
• 2026-05-11: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• 2026-05-11: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• 2026-04-30: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
• 2025-05-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.