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Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act
To prohibit the exercise of the right of eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.
Summary
- Prohibits the use of federal funds to litigate a specific eminent domain case involving Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
- Prohibits the use of federal funds for any action relating to eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.
- Prohibits the use of federal funds to construct, install, operate, or maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, or related structures on or near Mount Cristo Rey.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Veronica Escobar’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $13,980
- INVARIANT $10,100
- HUNT COMPANIES INC. $9,900
- TRI-STATE COSMETOLOGY INSTITUTE $9,100
- WESTSTAR BANK $8,850
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Veronica Escobar → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jul 16, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Jul 16, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2026
Ms. Escobar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To prohibit the exercise of the right of eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN.
(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Mount Cristo Rey is a mountain that bears deep religious and cultural significance located in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
(2) Mount Cristo Rey is a holy site, and a pilgrimage destination visited by over 40,000 people every year.
(3) A 29-foot statute of Jesus Christ was constructed at the peak of Mount Cristo Rey and dedicated in October 1939.
(4) Every year, faithful from Texas, New Mexico, and the state of Chihuahua, participate in pilgrimages on Good Friday in the spring and on the Feast of Christ the King in the fall.
(5) Mount Cristo Rey is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces.
(6) The Federal Government’s attempt to seize the land around Mount Cristo Rey for the purposes of border wall construction infringes upon the religious liberty of the Catholic Church and all visitors to the holy site.
(b) Prohibition With Respect to Mount Cristo Rey.—No Federal funds may be used to litigate United States of America v. 14.259 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Dona Ana County, State of New Mexico, No. 2:26-cv-01458 (D.N.M. filed May 7, 2026) or for any other action relating to eminent domain with respect to Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
(c) Prohibition of Certain Security Meausures.—No Federal funds may be used to construct, install, operate, or maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, or related structures on or near Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico. <all>
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