Deputy Darren Almendarez Act

Brandon Gill

Republican · TX · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

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

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-07-23

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would make it illegal to buy, sell, or trade stolen catalytic converters, which are valuable car parts that reduce vehicle emissions. It aims to crack down on theft rings that steal these converters from parked cars and sell them for scrap metal, targeting both the thieves and people who knowingly purchase stolen converters. The law would affect car owners, scrap metal dealers, and law enforcement agencies trying to prevent this growing type of vehicle theft.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9904 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9904 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the trafficking in catalytic converters. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2026 Mr. Gill of Texas (for himself, Mr. Correa, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Williams of Texas, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Suozzi, and Mr. Vasquez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the trafficking in catalytic converters. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Deputy Darren Almendarez Act''. SEC. 2. TRAFFICKING IN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. (a) In General.--Chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2321 the following: ``Sec. 2321A. Trafficking in catalytic converters ``(a) Offense.--Except as provided under subsection (c), whoever, in or affecting interstate commerce, knowingly-- ``(1) possesses one or more catalytic converters that was removed from a motor vehicle; or ``(2) purchases one or more catalytic converters that was removed from a motor vehicle, with the intent to distribute, sell, or dispose of such catalytic converter or any precious metal removed from such converter, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) for each possession or purchase. ``(b) Penalties.--Whoever commits an offense under subsection (a)-- ``(1) shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both; and ``(2) for a second or subsequent offense under subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $200,000, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. ``(c) Affirmative Defense.--It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsection (a) if the person complied with all State and local identification requirements and record-keeping practices relating to catalytic converters in the State which the transaction occurred and-- ``(1) the catalytic converter was removed from a motor vehicle by a motor vehicle owner or by the lessee of a leased motor vehicle; ``(2) an person possessed or purchased a catalytic converter in the ordinary course of their official duties for a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or dealer; ``(3) an employee or agent of a person acting in their official duties as a motor vehicle repair facility engaged in diagnosis, service, maintenance, repair, or calibration of a catalytic converter of a motor vehicle if the employee or agent does not-- ``(A) extract any precious metals from the catalytic converter; ``(B) remove the identity, including the vehicle identification number or derivative thereof, or other identification marking, of such vehicle or catalytic converter; or ``(C) distribute, sell, or dispose of the vehicle, or catalytic converter, or precious metals extracted from such catalytic converter; or ``(4) a metal recycling entity that purchases or otherwise acquires a catalytic converter that was removed from a motor vehicle if the person selling the catalytic converter to the metal recycling entity acquired the catalytic converter in the ordinary course of business of such entity, including in the ordinary course of business of-- ``(A) a licensed automotive wrecking and salvage yard; ``(B) a registered metal recycling entity; ``(C) a licensed motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, converter, or dealer, including any department of a dealer or converter that repairs or services motor vehicles; ``(D) a licensed motor vehicle repair facility; ``(E) a licensed used automotive parts recycler; ``(F) a licensed…

motor vehicle demolisher; ``(G) a school or training program in which students are provided instruction on building, repairing, or restoring motor vehicles; ``(H) a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency; ``(I) the National Insurance Crime Bureau; ``(J) a business that is-- ``(i) located in and regulated by State or a political subdivision of a State; and ``(ii) engaged in an activity relating to catalytic converters that is regulated by a State or a political subdivision of a State; and ``(K) a business that-- ``(i) is located in a jurisdiction outside the United States and operated in a business form recognized by the laws of that jurisdiction; and ``(ii) imports catalytic converters into the United States in accordance with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States published by the U.S. International Trade Commission (or a successor schedule). ``(d) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Catalytic converter.--The term `catalytic converter' means an emission pollution-control device that converts toxic byproducts of combustion in the exhaust of an engine to less toxic substances by means of catalyzed chemical reactions. ``(2) Dealer; motor vehicle; motor vehicle distributor; motor vehicle manufacturer.--The terms `dealer', `motor vehicle', `motor vehicle distributor', `motor vehicle manufacturer' have the meanings given the terms in section 30102 of title 49. ``(3) Metal recycling entity.--The term `metal recycling entity' means a business that operates from a fixed location and is predominantly engaged in-- ``(A) performing the manufacturing process by which scrap, used, or obsolete ferrous or nonferrous metal is converted into raw material products consisting of prepared grades and having an existing or potential economic value, by a method that in part requires the use of powered tools and equipment, including processes that involve processing, sorting, cutting, classifying, cleaning, baling, wrapping, shredding, shearing, or changing the physical form of that metal; ``(B) using raw material products described under subparagraph (A) in the manufacture of producer or consumer goods; or ``(C) purchasing or otherwise acquiring scrap, used, or obsolete ferrous or nonferrous metals for the eventual use of the metal for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) or (B). ``(4) Motor vehicle dealer.--The term `motor vehicle dealer' means a dealer that has an agreement with a motor vehicle manufacturer related to the diagnostics, repair, or service of a motor vehicle. ``(5) Motor vehicle owner.--The term `motor vehicle owner'-- ``(A) means a person with a present possessive ownership right in a motor vehicle or a lessee of a motor vehicle; and ``(B) does not include a motor vehicle manufacturer or a person operating on behalf of a motor vehicle manufacturer, a motor vehicle financing company, a motor vehicle dealer, or a motor vehicle lessor. ``(6) Motor vehicle repair facility.--The term `motor vehicle repair facility' means any person that, in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged in the business of diagnosis, service, maintenance, repair, or calibration of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. ``(7) Precious metals.--The term `precious metals' has the meaning given the term in section 109-27.5101 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).''. (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2321 the following: ``2321A. Trafficking in catalytic converters.''. <all>

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