H.R. 4788: To require the District of Columbia to permit Members of Congress who have a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State which permits the Member to carry a concealed firearm, or who is otherwise entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State in which the Member resides, to carry a concealed firearm in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4788 is a narrow but politically significant firearms bill aimed only at Members of Congress. It amends Section 5 of the Act of July 8, 1932, codified at section 22–4505 of the D.C. Official Code, to create a new exemption from section 4(a) of that same 1932 law. In plain terms, the District would have to allow qualifying federal lawmakers to carry concealed pistols in D.C. even though D.C. has its own rules governing pistols.

The exemption is not automatic for every elected federal official. A Member of Congress must satisfy all 3 listed conditions in the new subsection (c)(1): first, the person cannot be barred by federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm under the federal definition in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3); second, the person must have a valid license or permit issued by a State to carry a concealed firearm, or otherwise be entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State where the Member resides; and third, the person must carry a valid identification document that includes a photograph.

The bill also gives a precise definition of who counts as a "Member of Congress." It includes "a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress." That means the bill is not limited to Senators and House members from the 50 States; it also reaches Delegates and the Resident Commissioner if they meet the same concealed-carry and identification rules.

The timing is simple and immediate. Under section 1(b), the Act and all of its amendments take effect on the date of enactment, with no delayed implementation period, no phase-in, and no funding section. The practical result is that D.C. would have to recognize concealed-carry authority for this defined group as soon as the bill becomes law, while lawmakers who do not meet all 3 eligibility tests would not qualify for the exemption.