Sponsors (4)
The bill strengthens penalties and narrows pardon protections to better deter and punish attacks on federal institutions—boosting security and accountability—while raising taxpayer costs, expanding prosecutorial power, and creating risks of overbroad application, reduced clemency, and increased litigation.
Federal officials, members of Congress, staff, and the public will face a lower risk of repeat attacks and disruptions because the bill strengthens penalties for insurrection-related conduct, clarifies repeat-offender treatment, and limits pardon shields, reinforcing protection of democratic institutions.
Prosecutors, law enforcement, and courts gain clearer legal tools—explicitly criminalizing attempts and conspiracies and treating certain prior convictions as relevant—making it easier to charge and hold accountable collaborators in coordinated attacks on federal proceedings.
People accused under the Act retain constitutional protections and an explicit right to appeal convictions and any enhanced penalties, preserving due process and access to judicial review.
Taxpayers will likely face higher correctional and related government costs because the bill expands recidivist sentencing, authorizes longer or life terms, and could increase prosecutions and appeals.
People from marginalized communities, peaceful protesters, and defendants risk disproportionate or unfair treatment because broader definitions, tougher enhancements, and increased prosecutorial leverage may increase disparities, plea pressure, and sweeping prosecutions.
Individuals who previously received pardons or set-aside convictions and future defendants will have reduced access to executive clemency and rehabilitation because the bill narrows the effect of pardons and limits how clemency can shield repeat anti-democratic conduct.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Adds new federal recidivist sentencing enhancements for repeat "violent insurrection" convictions, including tiered additional prison terms and a possible life sentence for certain patterns.
Official title: To provide for an enhanced penalty for an act of violent insurrection.
Introduced January 6, 2026 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress January 6, 2026
Creates new federal recidivist sentencing enhancements for people convicted of defined "violent insurrection" offenses tied to unlawful entry and violent or obstructive acts at the U.S. Capitol, White House, or Supreme Court. It authorizes tiered additional prison terms for repeat offenders, including a life sentence (with at least 15 years) for certain enumerated offenses when the defendant shows a pattern of anti‑democratic conduct, while preserving constitutional rights and appeal protections and limiting the effect of some pardons.