Censuring Representative Andrew Ogles and Removing Him from the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1113
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-14T03:48:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1113) aims to formally reprimand (censure) Representative Andrew Ogles for making public statements perceived as Islamophobic, racist, and anti-immigrant, and to remove him from his position on the House Committee on Homeland Security due to concerns about his fitness to serve in that role. It emphasizes the U.S. values of diversity, pluralism, and religious freedom under the Constitution.
Key Provisions
- Censure of Representative Ogles: The House would officially censure him as a form of public disapproval for his statements, including:
- Requiring him to appear in the "well" of the House (the area in front of the Speaker's podium) for the pronouncement.
- Directing the Speaker to publicly read the resolution aloud as part of the censure.
- Removal from Committee: Immediately removes Representative Ogles from the House Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees issues like immigration, border security, and national threats.
The resolution cites specific examples of Ogles' statements, such as claiming "Muslims don't belong in American society," suggesting Muslims will "breed their way through our society," and calling for the denaturalization (revoking citizenship) and deportation of Muslim elected officials based on their religion.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a congressional resolution, not a statute, so it does not amend federal laws. Instead, it enforces internal House rules on member conduct and committee assignments. It changes the composition of the Homeland Security Committee by removing Ogles, which could alter committee dynamics but is reversible by future House votes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies and Congress: The removal could affect the Homeland Security Committee's oversight of agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, potentially shifting focus away from discriminatory rhetoric in immigration and security discussions.
- On Citizens: Reinforces congressional standards against hate speech targeting minorities, immigrants, and Muslims, possibly boosting public trust in diverse representation. It may deter similar statements from other members but could also spark debates on free speech limits.
- On International Relations: Highlights U.S. commitment to religious freedom and anti-discrimination, which might improve perceptions abroad, especially in Muslim-majority countries, but could draw criticism if seen as partisan.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Representative Andrew Ogles: Directly faces professional repercussions, including public humiliation and loss of committee influence.
- House Committee on Homeland Security: Loses a member, impacting its membership balance and decision-making on security and immigration policies.
- Muslim, Immigrant, and Minority Communities: Protected from inflammatory rhetoric by a sitting congressman, potentially reducing feelings of marginalization.
- Broader Congress and Political Parties: Affects internal ethics enforcement; Republicans (Ogles' party) may view it as an intra-party challenge, while Democrats (who introduced it) may use it to promote accountability.
- U.S. Public: Influences perceptions of congressional integrity and the handling of diversity issues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional Ties: References the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom, underscoring that while members have speech rights, their conduct must align with constitutional principles like "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one), promoting unity through diversity. Censure does not violate free speech, as it is a political, not legal, sanction.
- Legal Aspects: As an internal House action under its rules (e.g., Clause 11 of Rule X for committee removals), it has no court-enforceable effect but sets precedents for ethics investigations by the House Ethics Committee.
- Political Implications: Could heighten partisan tensions, especially if passed along party lines, and signal a push for higher ethical standards amid rising concerns over hate speech in politics. It may invite counter-resolutions or legal challenges from Ogles, though such internal actions are rarely overturned judicially.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- 2026-03-12: Submitted in House
- 2026-03-12: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Censuring Representative Andrew Ogles and Removing Him from the House Committee on Homeland Security. — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (3 pages)