United States 113th Congress Status: Died 1 R cosponsors

HR 4138 — ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

Last action — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 113th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of the Law Act of 2014 or the ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014 - Authorizes either chamber of Congress, upon adoption of a resolution declaring that the President or any officer or employee of the United States has established or implemented a policy, practice, or procedure to refrain from enforcing, applying, following, or administering any federal statute, rule, regulation, program, policy, or other law in violation of the constitutional requirement that the President faithfully execute the laws of the United States, to bring a civil action for a declaratory judgment to that effect. Grants jurisdiction to a three-judge panel of a U.S. district court to hear such civil action and provides for an expedited direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit quarterly reports to the congressional judiciary committees on the costs of any civil action brought under this Act, incuding any attorney fees paid in connection with any such action.

Bill Text

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Read HR 4138 on the official United States source →

Action History

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 - 181 (Roll no. 124).

  4. On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 - 228 (Roll no. 123). (consideration: CR H2339)

  5. The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H2338)

  6. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz motion to recommit with instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add at the end of the bill Section 3, Protecting States' Rights, and adding Section 4, Restoring Unemploymnet Benefits for America's Job Seekers. Pending a reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.

  7. Mr. Ruiz moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary. (consideration: CR H2338-2339; text: CR H2338)

  8. The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2329-2330)

  9. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2337)

  10. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4138.

  11. H.AMDT.591 On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment (A003) Failed by recorded vote: 185 - 231 (Roll no. 122).

  12. H.AMDT.590 On agreeing to the Nadler amendment (A002) Failed by recorded vote: 190 - 225 (Roll no. 121).

  13. H.AMDT.589 On agreeing to the Conyers amendment (A001) Failed by recorded vote: 188 - 227 (Roll no. 120).

  14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  15. H.AMDT.592 On agreeing to the Cicilline amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote.

  16. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 511, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cicilline Part A amendment No. 4.

  17. H.AMDT.592 Amendment (A004) offered by Mr. Cicilline. (consideration: CR H2334-2335: text: CR H2334-2335)Amendment provides for transparent accounting of the costs of litigation by requiring the Comptroller General of the United States to issue quarterly reports to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the costs of civil actions, including any attorney fees, brought pursuant to this Act.

  18. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 511, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 3.

  20. H.AMDT.591 Amendment (A003) offered by Ms. Jackson Lee. (consideration: CR H2332-2334, H2335, H2337; text: CR H2332)Amendment sought to protect the ability of the Executive Branch to comply with judicial decisions interpreting the Constitution or Federal laws.

  21. The Committee rose informally to receive a message from the President of the United States, and resumed its sitting afterwards.

  22. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Nadler Part A amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Nadler demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  23. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 511, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nadler Part A amendment No. 2.

  24. H.AMDT.590 Amendment (A002) offered by Mr. Nadler. (consideration: CR H2331-2332, H2335-2337; text: CR H2331)Amendment sought to clarify that nothing in the act limits or otherwise affects the constitutional authority of the executive branch to exercise prosecutorial discretion.

  25. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  26. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 511, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 1.

  27. H.AMDT.589 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Conyers. (consideration: CR H2330-2331, H2335-2336; text: CR H2330)Amendment sought to exclude from the bill's scope any executive actions taken to combat discrimination or to protect civil rights.

  28. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4138.

  29. The Speaker designated the Honorable Glenn Thompson to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  30. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 511 and Rule XVIII.

  31. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4138 and H.R. 3973. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  32. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 511. (consideration: CR H2319-2340)

  33. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 511 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4138 and H.R. 3973. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  34. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 281.

  35. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 113-377.

  36. Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 14.

  37. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  38. Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.

  39. Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

  40. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4138 do?
Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of the Law Act of 2014 or the ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014 - Authorizes either chamber of Congress, upon adoption of a resolution declaring that the President or any officer or employee of the United States has established or implemented a policy, practice, or procedure to refrain from enforcing, applying, following, or administering any federal statute, rule, regulation, program, policy, or other law in violation of the constitutional requirement that the President faithfully execute the laws of the United States, to bring a civil action for a declaratory judgment to that effect. Grants jurisdiction to a three-judge panel of a U.S. district court to hear such civil action and provides for an expedited direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit quarterly reports to the congressional judiciary committees on the costs of any civil action brought under this Act, incuding any attorney fees paid in connection with any such action.
Who sponsors HR 4138?
HR 4138 is sponsored by Trey Gowdy (R).
What is the current status of HR 4138?
This bill died with 113th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4138?
Track HR 4138 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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