Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the motivations of the members of the Texas Legislature who have fled to the Nation's capital from Texas and urging the Sergeant at Arms of the House, the United States Capitol Police, and Department of Justice to cooperate with the Texas Department of Public Safety in their efforts to return these members to Texas.

Whereas members of the Texas Legislature have taken an oath to faithfully execute the duties of the office Whereas, on June 25, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, acting within his powers, ordered a special session to address important issues affecting the State of Texas, including election integrity; Whereas instead of fulfilling their oath of office and representing their constituents as the Texas Legislature reconvened on July 12, over 50 Democratic members and paid staff of the legislature chartered private planes to flee the State for Washington, DC; Whereas the Democratic members of the legislature refuse to be fully transparent about their meetings in Washington and how they relate to their official responsibilities or the costs of their travel; Whereas the Democrat members are advocating circumventing State law and federalizing Texas elections through passage of H.R. 1; Whereas our Founders set up a federalist election system which allowed States to write and organize their own elections; Whereas this bill, also known as For the Politicians Act Whereas there are reports of Democratic members of the legislature soliciting donations to pay for their expenses in Washington; Whereas the Texas Legislature is considering legislation to address unique challenges to the State’s election process; Whereas the United States Capitol Complex remains restricted to public access; Whereas some Democratic members of the legislature have tested positive for COVID-19, presenting health risks for individuals with whom they come in contact; Whereas, on July 13, 2021, the Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution to allow the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to arrest and return to the Texas State Capitol any lawmaker who fled the State; and Whereas the Texas DPS is working to coordinate its efforts with other law enforcement jurisdictions: Now, therefore, be it That— (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the claims made by the members of the Texas Legislature who have fled to the Nation’s capital from Texas are unfounded at best and deceiving at worst, that their actions have further resulted in their abandonment of their responsibilities and duty to fulfill their oath of office; and (2) the House of Representatives urges the Sergeant at Arms of the House, the United States Capitol Police, and Department of Justice to cooperate with the Texas Department of Public Safety in their efforts to return these members to Texas.

Summary: This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the claims made by the members of the Texas legislature who have fled to the nation's capital from Texas are unfounded at best and deceiving at worst, and (2) their actions have further resulted in their abandonment of their responsibilities and duty to fulfill their oath of office. The resolution also urges the House Sergeant at Arms, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Department of Justice to cooperate with the Texas Department of Public Safety in their efforts to return these members to Texas.