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Bill113th CongressFiled Mar 4, 2014Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 4138

ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Mar 12, 2014)

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.

What just happenedMar 13, 2014

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

Who’s behind it

Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4](R-SC)Sponsor
22 cosponsors22 R
Read on Congress.gov
22cosponsors2committees36actions4amendments2related bills9subjects
  • Referred in SenateMar 13, 2014
  • Engrossed in HouseMar 12, 2014
  • Reported in HouseMar 7, 2014
  • Introduced in HouseMar 4, 2014
  1. Mar 13, 2014IntroReferral

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

  2. Mar 12, 2014FloorH38310

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

  3. Mar 12, 2014FloorH37100

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

  4. Mar 12, 2014Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 - 181 (Roll no. 124).

  5. Mar 12, 2014FloorH36110

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

  6. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8A000

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

  7. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  8. Mar 12, 2014FloorH36100

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

  9. Mar 12, 2014FloorH34400

    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)

  10. Mar 12, 2014FloorH35000

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

  11. Mar 12, 2014FloorH32600

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

  12. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  13. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  14. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  15. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  16. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

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

  17. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  18. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  19. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  20. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  21. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

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

  22. Mar 12, 2014FloorH32400

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

  23. Mar 12, 2014FloorH32020

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

  24. Mar 12, 2014FloorH8D000

    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.

  25. Mar 12, 2014FloorH30000

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

  26. Mar 11, 2014FloorH1L210

    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.

  27. Mar 7, 2014CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 281.

  28. Mar 7, 2014CommitteeH12200

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

  29. Mar 7, 2014Committee5000

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

  30. Mar 5, 2014Committee

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

  31. Mar 5, 2014Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  32. Mar 5, 2014Committee

    Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.

  33. Mar 4, 2014IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  34. Mar 4, 2014Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

  35. Mar 4, 2014IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  36. Mar 4, 2014IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedMar 12, 201436

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.

Reported to House without amendmentMar 7, 201479

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

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.

Introduced in HouseMar 4, 2014

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.

ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014 — Informed