# What This Resolution Actually Does

This is a symbolic statement from U.S. House Republicans criticizing Texas state legislators who left Texas to avoid voting on state election laws. In July 2021, more than 50 Democratic members of the Texas Legislature traveled to Washington, D.C. to prevent a quorum (the minimum number needed to conduct business), which blocked the Texas Legislature from voting on voting restriction bills that Republican Governor Greg Abbott had called a special session to pass. This resolution expresses disapproval of those lawmakers' actions and asks federal officials to help Texas authorities bring them back.

The resolution itself doesn't actually force anyone to do anything—it's essentially the House saying "we think this is wrong" and asking the Capitol Police, the Justice Department, and the Sergeant at Arms to work with Texas state police to return the legislators to Texas. It's a political statement rather than a law with teeth. The resolution criticizes the Democrats for breaking their oath of office, claims they're being deceptive about their activities in Washington, and argues they're trying to federalize Texas elections by supporting federal voting rights legislation. It also mentions that some of the legislators tested positive for COVID-19.

For everyday people, this resolution doesn't directly change anything about how you vote or what laws apply to you. However, it reflects a larger national conflict over voting rights and election rules. The underlying dispute is about whether states should control their own election processes or whether the federal government should set minimum standards. The resolution takes the position that states like Texas should have complete control over their elections, while the Texas Democrats who fled were trying to block state-level voting restrictions and support federal voting rights protections instead. This is a battle being fought in statehouses and Congress across the country, and this resolution is one move in that ongoing political fight.

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.

Van Duyne, Beth

 <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>