H.R. 4256 – Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:12 AM UTC

The Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2019 changes the federal Hobbs Act, which criminalizes robbery, extortion, and violence that interferes with commerce. It creates a narrow exemption for low‑level, non‑coordinated conduct that occurs during peaceful picketing in a labor dispute, limiting federal prosecution to more serious, patterned violence. The amendment also clarifies that such exempted conduct is handled by state or local authorities and does not alter existing labor statutes.

Key Provisions

Adds an exemption to the Hobbs Act for conduct that is (A) incidental to peaceful picketing, (B) only causes minor bodily injury or minor property damage, and (C) is not part of a pattern of violent activity.
Specifies that any violations involving the exempted conduct are to be prosecuted only by state or local authorities, not the federal government.
Provides definitions for “commerce,” “extortion,” “labor dispute,” and “robbery” to guide the application of the amendment.
States that the amendment does not change or repeal any provisions of the Clayton Act, Norris‑LaGuardia Act, National Labor Relations Act, or Railway Labor Act, and does not limit federal jurisdiction when conduct also violates other laws.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

October 28, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 9, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 9, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

October 28, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 9, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4256

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 9, 2019

Mr. Rooney of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend section 1951 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the Hobbs Act), and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2019.

2.

Interference with commerce by threats or violence

Section 1951 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

1951.

Interference with commerce by threats or violence

(a)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsection (c), whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion, or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section, shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for a term of not more than 20 years, or both.

(b)

Definitions

For purposes of this section—

(1)

the term commerce means any—

(A)

commerce within the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States;

(B)

commerce between any point in a State, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia and any point outside thereof;

(C)

commerce between points within the same State through any place outside that State; and

(D)

other commerce over which the United States has jurisdiction;

(2)

the term extortion means the obtaining of property from any person, with the consent of that person, if that consent is induced—

(A)

by actual or threatened use of force or violence, or fear thereof;

(B)

by wrongful use of fear not involving force or violence; or

(C)

under color of official right;

(3)

the term labor dispute has the same meaning as in section 2(9) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(9)); and

(4)

the term robbery means the unlawful taking or obtaining of personal property from the person or in the presence of another, against his or her will, by means of actual or threatened force or violence, or fear of injury, immediate or future—

(A)

to his or her person or property, or property in his or her custody or possession; or

(B)

to the person or property of a relative or member of his or her family, or of anyone in his or her company at the time of the taking or obtaining.

(c)

Exempted conduct

(1)

In general

Subsection (a) does not apply to any conduct that—

(A)

is incidental to otherwise peaceful picketing during the course of a labor dispute;

(B)

consists solely of minor bodily injury, or minor damage to property, or threat or fear of such minor injury or damage; and

(C)

is not part of a pattern of violent conduct or of coordinated violent activity.

(2)

State and local jurisdiction

Any violation of this section that involves any conduct described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to prosecution only by the appropriate State and local authorities.

(d)

Effect on other law

Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(1)

to repeal, amend, or otherwise affect—

(A)

section 6 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 17);

(B)

section 20 of the Clayton Act (29 U.S.C. 52);

(C)

any provision of the Norris-LaGuardia Act (29 U.S.C. 101 et seq.);

(D)

any provision of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or

(E)

any provision of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or

(2)

to preclude Federal jurisdiction over any violation of this section, on the basis that the conduct at issue—

(A)

is also a violation of State or local law; or

(B)

occurred during the course of a labor dispute or in pursuit of a legitimate business or labor objective.

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