Veronica Escobar (D-TX)
Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act," aims to stop the government from using eminent domain on Mount Cristo Rey. The legislation finds that the mountain is a holy site used for annual pilgrimages by thousands of people. It specifically targets a legal action regarding land in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to litigate that specific case or any other eminent domain actions involving the mountain. Additionally, it restricts federal spending on security structures near the site.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?
The bill protects a holy site and prevents the seizure of land used for religious pilgrimages.
- Scored +5
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
The bill protects a pilgrimage site frequently visited by people from the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
- Scored +2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill preserves the natural and cultural state of Mount Cristo Rey by prohibiting construction.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill restricts federal funds for border-related infrastructure and security measures near the mountain.
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill restricts the federal government's authority to use eminent domain and fund infrastructure at this location.
- Scored -3
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill restricts the use of surveillance infrastructure like cameras and sensors near the site.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Religious and Cultural Sites: The bill seeks to prevent the infringement of religious liberty for the Catholic Church and its visitors by prohibiting the seizure of land around the holy site (Section 2, Subsection a).
-
Preservation of Pilgrimage Traditions: By stopping the use of eminent domain and security construction, the bill protects the ability of the 40,000 annual visitors to participate in spring and fall pilgrimages (Section 2, Subsection a).
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Prevention of Unwanted Infrastructure: The bill prohibits the use of federal money to build or maintain roads, fencing, lighting, or cameras on or near the mountain, which protects the current state of the site (Section 2, Subsection c).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are listed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill protects a pilgrimage site frequently visited by people from the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill preserves the natural and cultural state of Mount Cristo Rey by prohibiting construction. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill prevents federal eminent domain actions on specific culturally significant land.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill restricts the federal government's authority to use eminent domain and fund infrastructure at this location.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill restricts the use of surveillance infrastructure like cameras and sensors near the site.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion? — The bill protects a holy site and prevents the seizure of land used for religious pilgrimages. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill restricts federal funds for border-related infrastructure and security measures near the mountain.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill restricts federal spending on specific litigation and infrastructure projects near Mount Cristo Rey.
- 10/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House
Brendan BoyleDemocrat · Pennsylvania