# 119-hr-9904: Deputy Darren Almendarez Act

119-hr-9904, Deputy Darren Almendarez Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-08-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9904
- As of: 2026-08-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9904
- Congress: 119
- Title: Deputy Darren Almendarez Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-08

## Summary

**Makes trafficking in catalytic converters a federal crime and targets the market for stolen converters.** This bill would add a new section to Title 18 that bans knowingly possessing or buying catalytic converters removed from vehicles with intent to sell, distribute, or extract precious metals, when the conduct affects interstate commerce. - Criminals and traffickers face steep penalties. Each possession or purchase carries fines up to $100,000 or up to 5 years in prison, and a second or later offense raises penalties to fines up to $200,000 or up to 10 years in prison. - Licensed and regulated businesses can avoid prosecution if they follow state and local identification and record-keeping rules. The bill lists exemptions that include metal recyclers, salvage yards, dealers, manufacturers, repair facilities, insurers, law enforcement, schools, and compliant foreign importers. - Vehicle owners and repair shops acting in ordinary course are protected. Owners or lessees who remove converters and repair employees who do not extract precious metals or remove identification markings fall within the bill's exemptions.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] (R-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] (R-TX), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New federal crime for catalytic converters: mixed, medium. This bill would make it a federal crime, for conduct in or affecting interstate commerce, to knowingly possess a catalytic converter taken from a motor vehicle or to knowingly buy one with intent to sell, distribute, or dispose of it or any precious metal removed from it. Each possession or purchas…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
- 119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9904 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9904)

## Related
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2853)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1502)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9904 (as of 2026-08-08).