Preserving Our Constitution Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Introduced
Summary
Constitutional supremacy over foreign and religious laws. This bill would bar federal courts, judges, magistrates, administrative bodies, and other federal adjudicative entities from recognizing or enforcing any foreign law, religious law, custom, or practice that conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal law.
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- Families and children: Would prevent enforcement or recognition of foreign or religious rules that permit forced or underage marriage, female genital mutilation, or other discriminatory treatment of women and children.
- Litigants and contracts: Would limit use of choice-of-law clauses, contractual enforcement, and recognition of foreign judgments when those laws clash with constitutional rights.
- Courts and appeals: Would require federal adjudicators to refuse incompatible laws and make failure to follow the bill a reversible error on appeal while preserving arbitration only to the extent it does not violate constitutional rights.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Block foreign or religious laws
This bill would bar federal courts, judges, and agencies from recognizing or enforcing any foreign or religious law, custom, or practice that conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal law. It would stop enforcing contract clauses or forum choices that pick those laws. It would also block recognition or enforcement of foreign judgments that applied such laws. The bill would define "foreign law" and "religious law" and list examples like forced or underage marriage, female genital mutilation, and cruel punishments such as amputation or stoning.
Keep cases in U.S. courts
This bill would stop courts from dismissing cases for forum non conveniens when an alternative forum cannot protect litigants' constitutional rights. It would also make failing to follow the Act a reversible error on appeal, so appellate courts could reverse or remand decisions that applied incompatible foreign or religious laws. The bill would not create a new private right to money or injunctions under the Act.
Arbitration preserved but limited
This bill would say arbitration agreements and awards remain enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. But it would not allow enforcement of arbitration when doing so would violate constitutional rights. The bill would also say it does not create a standalone private right to seek injunctions or money damages under this Act.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Crane
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14]
GA • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
FL • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov