Rep. Paul A. Gosar

Maddy summaryHRES 1134 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the 39th anniversary of National Missing Children's Day. It does not create new laws or policies but honors the day through formal acknowledgment. The resolution highlights efforts to raise child safety awareness, recognizes law enforcement's role in locating missing children, and references the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and AMBER Alert successes. It serves as a commemorative statement without any binding legislative effect.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) for purposes of federal law, a person's sex means the person's biological sex at birth; and (2) distinctions between the sexes are justified in certain settings, laws, and policies.

This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives demands an immediate border wall be constructed on the southern border of the United States; supports, unequivocally, America's sovereignty and territorial integrity; and commits to continuing to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The resolution also expresses that the House pledges to bolster U.S. energy security and reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports, and underscores the importance of maintaining U.S. energy independence for the benefit of the American people.

This resolution requests that the President provide to the House of Representatives documents concerning certain aspects of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations. For example, the resolution requests information, starting from January 20, 2021, about (1) the number of individuals apprehended by CBP along the southern border and demographic information about such individuals, (2) CBP officers stationed along the southern border, (3) individuals who had unlawfully entered the United States and have been released from CBP custody, and (4) the amount of federal funds expended relating to the care of individuals who had unlawfully entered the United States.

Maddy summaryHRES 493 is a non-binding House resolution expressing disapproval of President Biden's immigration enforcement actions. It specifically criticizes the 100-day pause on deporting individuals with final removal orders and the preservation of the DACA program, alleging these actions violate the President’s constitutional duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." The resolution demands the removal of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, calls for full enforcement of immigration laws, and asserts that the President has unlawfully usurped Congress’s legislative authority. It cites court rulings and a GAO opinion stating the President cannot substitute policy priorities for enacted laws. The resolution serves as a symbolic censure, not a policy change.

Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act This bill specifically allows Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations to enforce the Controlled Substances Act during their normal course of duties and to the same extent as the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Empowering States to Deport Illegal Immigrants Act This bill authorizes states to take actions to enforce federal immigration law. Specifically, the bill authorizes states to authorize state and local law enforcement to enforce certain provisions of federal immigration law, including provisions relating to unlawful entry and employing unauthorized non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law). State prosecutors must prosecute every case brought by a state under this bill. The bill also abrogates a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that invalidated an Arizona law that made it a crime for unauthorized non-U.S. nationals to work in the state. Specifically, the court ruled that the Arizona law was preempted by federal immigration law.

Justice for Angel Families Act This bill expands the allowable uses of state compensation payments for crime victims to include certain expenses for angel families. Angel family refers to the immediate family members of any individual who is a victim of homicide committed by (1) an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States, or (2) a member of an international criminal organization involved in the unlawful trafficking of controlled substances. The bill also reestablishes the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within the Department of Homeland Security.

Ending Catch and Release Act of 2022 This bill changes the treatment of certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) without lawful immigration status, including by prohibiting the release of asylum seekers into the United States while their cases are pending. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may not (with some exceptions) release an individual who is not clearly entitled to admission into the United States while the individual's case is pending, even if the individual is an asylum seeker. DHS may instead detain the individual or return the individual to a neighboring country in certain situations. The bill also expands expedited removal from the United States (i.e., removal without further hearing or review) to include individuals present in the United States without being admitted, with certain exceptions. Under current law, individuals are subject to expedited removal if they lack proper documentation or obtained an immigration benefit through fraud; such individuals are still subject to expedited removal under the bill. The bill also modifies the standard for establishing a credible fear of persecution to avoid expedited removal. Generally, an asylum seeker may avoid expedited removal if an asylum officer finds such a credible fear. Under this bill, an officer may find credible fear if it is more likely than not the individual can establish their eligibility for asylum, whereas under current law, the officer may find credible fear if there is a significant possibility that the individual can establish their eligibility.

Protect Children's Innocence Act This bill places restrictions on the provision of gender affirming care. Gender affirming care includes performing surgery, administering medication, or performing other procedures for the purpose of changing the body of an individual to correspond to a sex that differs from the individual's biological sex. Specifically, the bill makes it a felony to perform any gender affirming care on a minor and it permits a minor on whom such care is performed to bring a civil action against each individual who provided the care. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for gender affirming care or for health insurance that covers such care. Such care may not be provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. The bill also prohibits qualified health plans from including coverage for gender affirming care. Further, plans that include coverage for such care are not eligible for federal subsidies. Finally, the bill prohibits institutions of higher education from offering instruction in gender affirming care. It also makes any non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who performs gender affirming care on a minor deportable and inadmissible to the United States. The restrictions under this bill do not apply to the provision of care under certain circumstances such as when an individual does not have normal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or sex steroid hormone action.