US Federal House Bill HR650

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/15/25
• Refer: 8/15/25

Caption

Original Resolution Condemning the Racist Mid-Decade Texas Redistricting Ordered by President Donald J. Trump

Summary

H. Res. 650 is a House resolution that condemns a mid-decade congressional redistricting effort in Texas, characterizing it as unconstitutional and racist and attributing it to President Donald J. Trump. The resolution cites a July 2025 communication from the Department of Justice warning Texas that certain congressional districts were remnants of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering and could face legal action if not corrected. It also references Texas officials’ response denying that the legislature drew race-based districts, as well as testimony from the chair of the Texas Senate Redistricting Committee that districts were drawn in a race-blind manner. The resolution argues that the DOJ’s stated concern about racial gerrymandering is a pretext for a broader effort to reshape Texas’s map in a way that preserves Republican control of the U.S. House. It invokes Texas’s history of voting-rights discrimination and asserts that eliminating districts where people of color elect candidates of color would be consistent with that history. The only operative provision is a formal House condemnation of the redistricting plan; it does not itself change district lines, voting rules, or enforcement standards.

Impact

Because this is a simple House resolution, it does not amend the Texas Election Code, federal voting-rights statutes, or congressional district boundaries. Its legal effect is limited to expressing the sense of the House and placing the chamber on record regarding the Texas redistricting dispute. The resolution is aimed at political and constitutional criticism of the map and the federal-state conflict over alleged racial gerrymandering, rather than creating new rights, duties, or procedures for Texas officials, voters, or courts.

Sentiment

The bill’s tone is strongly oppositional and accusatory, reflecting sharp partisan disagreement over the Texas map and the role of the Trump administration and DOJ. The resolution itself is written in highly critical language, and the available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes to indicate bipartisan support. Overall, the sentiment around the measure is negative toward the redistricting effort and supportive of condemning it as discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Contention

The main point of contention is whether the Texas districts were drawn with racial intent or whether the DOJ’s intervention is being used as a political tool to force a partisan redraw. Supporters of the resolution, as reflected in its text, view the plan as racist gerrymandering that targets districts where voters of color elect candidates of color. Opponents would likely argue that the DOJ’s concerns about racial gerrymandering are legitimate or that the resolution unfairly politicizes a legal dispute; however, no opposing statements or votes are included in the provided record.