A trio of House Democrats are expected to introduce new legislation that would propose a ban on all levels of law enforcement using chemical weapons such as tear gas in police operations.

The bill, dubbed"Prohibiting Law Enforcement Use of Chemical Weapons Act," is being spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.),Mark TakanoMark Allan TakanoHouse Democrats set to introduce proposed ban on chemical weapons Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary House committees move toward virtual hearings for COVID-19 era MORE (Calif.) andJess Garcia (Ill.).

Tear gas has been banned fromwar by the Geneva Protocol, butlaw enforcement in the U.S. is stillpermitted to use chemical agents as a crowd-control tactic. Reports of police using tear gashave become morecommonplace in recent weeks as protests decrying police brutality and the death of George Floyd have swept across the nation.

"To stop us from protesting the death of a Black man who was suffocated by police, law enforcement is using a weapon that restricts our lungs during a respiratory pandemic, Ocasio-Cortez saidin a statement. It is a horror on top of a horror on top of a horror and it must end. Banning tear gas is one of many steps we must take in this moment to fundamentally restructure the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to protect and serve.

Thedraft of the billdoesnt explicitly mention tear gas, but rather uses the term chemical weapons, which it defines vaguely as [a] toxic chemical and its precursors. Pepper spray, referred to as oleoresin capsicum spray in the bill, would be exempt from the ban.

Under the bill, all law enforcement agencies would need to surrender their tear gas and certain federal grants that departments often receive would becontingenton if the ban was followed. The Justice Department's Inspector General would also conduct yearly audits on police departments to confirm compliance.

This isn't the first House legislation regarding law enforcement to be announced since Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police on May 25. Last week, Rep. Justin AmashJustin AmashOver 1,400 pro athletes, coaches call on Congress to back bill ending qualified immunity House Democrats set to introduce proposed ban on chemical weapons Mark Cuban says he's decided not to run for president MORE (L-Mich.) introduced a bill that would end qualified immunity for police officers. Qualified immunity shields government officials, includingpolice officers, fromlegal action that alleges theyviolated someone'srights unless aclearly established right has been infringed upon.

Several cities including Denver, Portland and Seattle have pushed to temporarily suspend use of chemical agents by policeamid recent protests.

--Updated 1:06 p.m.

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