Lance Gooden
Republican · Representative for Texas's 5th district
14 sponsored · 226 cosponsored
In the House since 2019
Age 44
Contact their office: (202) 225-3484 · 2431 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 · Official website
In the 119th Congress (2025–2026)
- Sponsored 14 bills.The typical House member sponsored 25. Bills they wrote, not ones they signed on to.
- 2 bills they backed became law.They cosponsored them.
- 21 passed the House and wait on the Senate.And 1 has passed both chambers and gone to the President.
- Missed 6 of 676 recorded votes (0.9%).The typical House member missed 1.9%. The record doesn’t say why.
- Works most on crime and law enforcement and taxation.40 and 26 of the 240 bills they wrote or backed.
What they got done
Most bills never get a vote. These are the ones they wrote or backed that got somewhere.
Became law (2)
This Act authorizes the award of 3 Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. The medals recognize the team's victory over the Soviet Union during the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Became law · 119-HR-452
This joint resolution expresses congressional disapproval of a specific rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Became law · 119-HJRES-88
- Yes: Does this leave more decisions to the states?By striking the EPA rule, Congress supports the ability of states like California to set their own stricter standards without federal interference. +5
- No: Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?The resolution undermines environmental standards set by the EPA for motor vehicle emissions. -5
Passed Congress — the President's turn (1)
Both chambers passed it. The President signs it into law or vetoes it, and a veto stands unless two-thirds of each chamber vote to pass it anyway. Everything Congress has sent the President →
This bill updates the debt limits for people and small businesses filing for bankruptcy. Specifically, it changes the debt limit for small business debtors under section 1182(1) of title 11, United States Code.
Passed the Senate with no one objecting, no names recorded · 119-HR-7730
- Yes: Does this make it easier to run a small business?The bill expands bankruptcy eligibility for small businesses by adjusting debt thresholds. +5
Passed one chamber, waiting on the other (21)
Halfway: the other chamber has to pass the same text before it can go to the President.
- They cosponsoredNational Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach ActSep 14, 2026
This bill is known as the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act.
Passed the House by voice vote, no names recorded · 119-HR-309
- Yes: Would students be better off under this?Provides curricula and educational resources for students and teachers. +5
This bill prohibits payment card networks and covered entities from using specific merchant category codes to distinguish firearms retailers from other types of retailers.
Passed the House 221–201 · 119-HR-1181
- Yes: Does this protect the right to own guns?The bill protects the privacy of firearms transactions which supports the ability to conduct lawful gun commerce. +6
- No: Does this leave more decisions to the states?The bill preempts state and local laws that regulate the assignment or use of merchant category codes for firearms retailers. -7
This Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint gold and silver coins to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Passed the House 415–0 · 119-HR-1993
- Yes: Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?The Act ensures that the coin program results in no net cost to the Federal Government. +5
And 18 more on their Sponsored and Cosponsored pages.
Still waiting, of the 14 bills they wrote: 1 cleared committee and waits for a first vote, 13 are in committee. Committee is where most bills end, whoever writes them — silence there, not a vote, is the usual way a bill dies.
What their bills would do
Every bill is scored against plain yes-or-no questions. These count their bills — the ones they wrote and the ones they cosponsored — by how each question was answered: yes, or the opposite. Open one to see those bills, where each stands, and why it was scored that way. Scores are made by AI ().
Who their bills would affect
What else they would change
How they voted lately
Their latest votes that decided something, and what each measure would do.
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The main purpose is to provide a clear definition of adequate consideration for certain closely held stock.
A fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to pass — Passed
- Yes: Would retired people be better off under this?Improving the clarity of stock valuation for ESOPs supports more stable retirement transitions. +4
119-S-2403 · roll call 314
This Act provides for improvements to rivers and harbors in the United States and the conservation and development of water and related resources.
A fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to pass — Passed
- Yes: Would Native Americans be better off under this?Directly authorizes land transfers to Tribal entities and prioritizes technical assistance for Tribal communities. +8
- No: Does this reduce what the federal government spends?The bill explicitly increases spending limits and funding authorizations for dozens of regional water resource programs. -5
119-HR-9497 · roll call 313
This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to create a new Federal standard regarding the costs of upgrades for large-load customers.
A fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to pass — Passed
- Yes: Does this keep data centers from raising household electric and water bills?The bill requires large-load customers to cover the full incremental cost of grid upgrades and provide financial assurances, preventing those costs from being passed to households. +7
- No: Would business owners be better off under this?Large-scale non-residential energy consumers face increased costs and financial assurance requirements. -5
119-HR-9340 · roll call 312
On the President’s vetoes
The President can refuse to sign a bill both chambers passed. It becomes law anyway only if two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate vote to pass it again. A vote against the veto (a Yea) was a vote to make the bill law over the President’s objection; a vote for it (a Nay) was a vote to let the veto stand.
Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act — vetoed Dec 29, 2025
For the vetovoted Nay, to let the veto stand.
The override fell short in the House, 248–177; it needed two-thirds · Jan 8, 2026
Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act — vetoed Dec 29, 2025
For the vetovoted Nay, to let the veto stand.
The override fell short in the House, 236–188; it needed two-thirds · Jan 8, 2026
How busy they have been
How many bills they have put their name to over time — volume, not results: most bills never get a vote.