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Bill

HR 9113

Department of Homeland Security Accountability Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Troy Carter and 12 co-sponsors

Requires DHS to notify Congress promptly of any serious injury or death of individuals in DHS custody.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
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Bill Summary · HR 9113

Bill overview

  • Bill: HR 9113
  • Session: 119
  • Jurisdiction: United States
  • Title: To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify Congress of any serious injury or death of any individual in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Purpose and intent

The primary aim of HR 9113 is to enhance congressional awareness and oversight by mandating timely notification to Congress when any individual in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suffers a serious injury or death. This requirement is intended to improve transparency, accountability, and the ability of Congress to conduct oversight of DHS custody practices and conditions.

Key provisions and changes

  • Notification duty: The Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to notify Congress promptly (the bill specifies “any serious injury or death” in DHS custody) about incidents affecting individuals in DHS custody.
  • Scope of incidents: Covers serious injuries and deaths occurring to individuals while in DHS custody. The exact definitions of “serious injury” and the custody contexts (e.g., custody at facilities, border processing, detention, or other DHS custody settings) would be clarified in the bill text.
  • Reporting mechanism: Establishes a process or channel through which the notification must be delivered to Congress, potentially including the relevant committees (e.g., House and Senate Homeland Security committees) and the required content of the notification.
  • Additional purposes: The phrase “and for other purposes” suggests that there could be ancillary provisions related to oversight, reporting cadence, or related DHS accountability measures, although specific details would be in the bill text.

Who/what would be affected

  • Department of Homeland Security: DHS would be obligated to notify Congress of qualifying incidents, impacting internal incident reporting processes and communications with Congress.
  • Congress: Key oversight bodies (likely House and Senate Homeland Security committees) would receive timely information to monitor custody conditions, investigate incidents, and consider policy or legislative responses.
  • Individuals in DHS custody: The standard of care, treatment, and safety monitoring for individuals in DHS custody could be influenced by increased oversight and transparency, depending on DHS’s responsiveness to reported incidents.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: HR 9113 was introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security on June 2, 2026.
  • Sponsorship: The bill has multiple co-sponsors, including LaMonica McIver, Al Green, Suhas Subramanyam, Dan Goldman, Troy Carter, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Tim Kennedy, Lou Correa, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bennie Thompson, and Shri Thanedar. Their involvement signals cross-party support and interest in oversight and accountability.
  • Next steps: The House Committee on Homeland Security would review, potentially amend, and consider markup. If approved, the bill would move through further House actions and, if passed, advance to the Senate for consideration.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Oversight enhancement: The bill would strengthen Congress’s ability to monitor DHS custody incidents, enabling more timely inquiries and policy responses.
  • Accountability incentives: By requiring formal notifications, DHS may adopt more robust internal reporting and tracking of incidents in custody.
  • Scope and definitions: The effectiveness and reach of the bill depend on precise definitions of “serious injury” and the range of DHS custody scenarios covered; clearer definitions would be critical to avoid ambiguity.
  • Operational burden: DHS would need to implement or modify notification processes, which could involve standardized reporting templates, timelines, and coordination with multiple DHS components.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to specific committees or provide a prospective timeline based on typical House passage patterns.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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