This proposal narrows when the military can help with local police work. It says the Defense Department can only step in during big emergencies that overwhelm civilian law enforcement—like a major natural disaster, a serious public health emergency, a humanitarian crisis, a major attack on critical infrastructure, a nuclear or other direct military attack, or a domestic terrorist incident. In any of those cases, the President must first send Congress a written explanation of why local authorities are overwhelmed before the military can help .

Any military support to civilian law enforcement would be short-term. It can last up to 14 days. If more time is needed, Congress must approve it through a special vote to extend the support beyond those two weeks .

• Who is affected: Local communities, police, and the U.S. military when responding to major emergencies .
• What changes: Military help to civilian law enforcement is limited to defined emergencies and requires a written justification; help beyond 14 days needs Congress to agree .
• When it applies: During the listed emergency situations that overwhelm civilian law enforcement capacity .