# 119-hr-9739: Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act

119-hr-9739, Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9739
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9739
- Congress: 119
- Title: Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-11-04

## Summary

**Would bar federal funds for eminent domain and border-wall related construction at Mount Cristo Rey to protect the site's religious and cultural use.** The bill would prohibit using federal funds to litigate United States of America v. 14.259 Acres of Land, No. 2:26-cv-01458 (D.N.M.) or to pursue any eminent domain action affecting Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico. It also would bar federal funds to construct, install, operate, or maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, or related structures on or near the mountain. Congress finds Mount Cristo Rey is a holy site owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, visited by over 40,000 people annually, home to a 29-foot statue dedicated in October 1939, and a destination for annual pilgrimages from Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2026-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Prevent Federal Eminent Domain at Cristo Rey: benefit, low. This bill would stop the federal government from using Federal funds to pursue eminent domain or related security construction at Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The bill would bar Federal funds to litigate United States of America v. 14.259 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Do…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-9739 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9739)

## Related
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2086)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9739 (as of 2026-11-04).