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H.R. 4138: ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

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H.R. 4138: ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

113th Congress · introduced 2014-03-04 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2014-03-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 5 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 120 (2014): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR4138 (2014-03-12), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

Plain 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4] · 22 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Jason Smith (R-MO), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (4)
Jurisdiction
The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
Resolution
A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong113-hr4138 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113