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H.R. 9739

U.S. House•In House Committee

Summary

H.R. 9739, the Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act, was introduced in the House on Jul 16, 2026 by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D). It was referred to Judiciary, and last saw action on Jul 16, 2026: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Record

Text

H.R. 9739 has no co-sponsors and has not gone to a roll call.

hr9739/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 9739 IH: Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-07-16
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 9739  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   July 16, 2026   Ms. Escobar  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To prohibit the exercise of the right of eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act  .
2.
Prohibition on use of eminent domain
(a)
Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Mount Cristo Rey is a mountain that bears deep religious and cultural significance located in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
(2)
Mount Cristo Rey is a holy site, and a pilgrimage destination visited by over 40,000 people every year.
(3)
A 29-foot statute of Jesus Christ was constructed at the peak of Mount Cristo Rey and dedicated in October 1939.
(4)
Every year, faithful from Texas, New Mexico, and the state of Chihuahua, participate in pilgrimages on Good Friday in the spring and on the Feast of Christ the King in the fall.
(5)
Mount Cristo Rey is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces.
(6)
The Federal Government’s attempt to seize the land around Mount Cristo Rey for the purposes of border wall construction infringes upon the religious liberty of the Catholic Church and all visitors to the holy site.
(b)
Prohibition with respect to Mount Cristo Rey
No Federal funds may be used to litigate United States of America v. 14.259 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Dona Ana County, State of New Mexico, No. 2:26-cv-01458 (D.N.M. filed May 7, 2026) or for any other action relating to eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
(c)
Prohibition of certain security meausures
No Federal funds may be used to construct, install, operate, or maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, or related structures on or near Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2026-07-16
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

To prohibit the exercise of the right of eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.

Sponsors

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D) sponsors H.R. 9739 alone.

Committees

H.R. 9739 went before 1 committee: Judiciary.

Judiciary
Judiciary
Referred To · Jul 16, 2026 · 2,181 Bills

Actions

H.R. 9739 has taken 2 actions since Jul 16, 2026.

ChamberAction
Jul 16, 2026
House
Introduced in House
Jul 16, 2026
House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Judiciary Committee

Votes

H.R. 9739 has not gone to a roll call.

Titles

H.R. 9739 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.

  • Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act — Display Title
  • To prohibit the exercise of the right of eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey. — Official Title as Introduced

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 9739 under Government Operations and Politics, one of its 31 policy areas.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 9739’s is Government Operations and Politics.

hr9739/policy-areas.txt
Government Operations and PoliticsAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 9739, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Ms. ESCOBAR:H.R. 9739.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONARTICLE I, SECTION 8: POWERS OF CONGRESSCLAUSE 18The Congress shall have the power . . . To make all lawswhich shall be necessary and proper for carrying intoexecution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vestedin this Constitution in the government of the United States,or in any department or officer thereof.[Page H4624]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com