Message from Congressman Scott Fitzgerald

Good morning, everyone, and happy Tuesday! 

I’d like to kick off this week’s eNewsletter by highlighting a bill I recently introduced — H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025.

I introduced this bill to ensure law enforcement departments across the country have access to the most effective less-than-lethal equipment on the market. This legislation modernizes the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) by excluding “less-than-lethal projectile devices” from its definition of the term “firearm.”

Under the current reading of the GCA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) considers new models of less-than-lethal equipment, such as TASER devices, to be classified as firearms due to the way an object is propelled, although they do not carry a substantial risk of serious injury or death. The current classification has made procurement of these devices, critical for self-defense and de-escalation, difficult for law enforcement. This also leads to the misclassification of police officers' use of force, as the use of any firearm is considered “deadly force” by a majority of states.

Law enforcement relies on less-than-lethal weapons to protect themselves in dangerous situations. Technology has progressed quickly and it’s important the law evolves to ensure departments across the country can access the critical equipment they need to keep us safe. I’m proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation.

Keep reading on to hear additional updates about what's been happening in Washington. I hope you have a great week.

-Scott

NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness and Antitrust Implications

As Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, I recently held a hearing investigating the current landscape around antitrust liability for the NCAA, which has created issues around Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments, the transfer portal, and eligibility rules in college athletics. 

Passport Casework Assistance

As spring and summer travel approach, make sure to double-check that your passports are current and haven’t expired!

If any passport issues arise, my office is here to help constituents of WI-05. Please contact my district office at (262) 784-1111 and visit my website here.

Navigating the Digital Payments Ecosystem

Recently, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing titled, "Navigating the Digital Payments Ecosystem: Examining a Federal Framework for Payment Stablecoins and Consequences of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency." 

During the hearing, we explored the potential of payment stablecoins as a cornerstone of a modern payment system and examined their current use cases, including remittances, cross-border payments, trade settlement, and business-to-business transfers. This hearing also examined the legislative framework for payment stablecoin issuance proposed by the Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy Act (STABLE) Act of 2025.

Rep. Fitzgerald Talks NIL Legislation with Dan Dakich

I was pleased to join Dan Dakich on his show Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich. We discussed how Congress is exploring different avenues when it comes to NIL legislation and the various effects it could have on the NCAA.

That wraps the updates from this edition of my eNewsletter. Thanks for reading along!  

-Scott

That's a wrap for this week's eNewsletter! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on my work for the 5th District of Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

Scott Fitzgerald
Member of Congress