02.09.2026 - DC Download

Feb 9

Congress is set for a packed agenda this week. The House is preparing to vote on legislation that would require proof of citizenship and voter ID to register to vote, and both chambers will hold a series of hearings focused on oversight and funding priorities. Hearings to examine the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be closely watched as lawmakers move closer toward the February 13 appropriations deadline.

Read on for more of what’s happening this week.

House

House Floor

The House will vote on seven suspension bills from the Committees on Financial Services and House Administration. Suspension bills require a ⅔ majority to pass. For a list of all suspension bills being considered, click here.

This week the House will also consider the following bills, subject to a rule:

H.R. 261 – Undersea Cable Protection Act (Sponsored by Rep. Carter (GA) / Natural Resources Committee) This bill repeals language barring permitted activities from destroying or damaging national marine sanctuary resources and voids certain additional permit requirements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

H.R. 2189 – Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act (Sponsored by Rep. Fitzgerald / Judiciary Committee) This bill reclassifies tasers to no longer be considered firearms subject to an excise tax.

H.R. 3617 – Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act (Sponsored by Rep. James / Energy and Commerce Committee) This bill directs the Energy Department to ensure an “adequate and reliable” supply of critical energy resources in the U.S., mitigate the effects of supply chain disruptions, and conduct assessments of current U.S. supply.

S. 1383 – SAVE America Act, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Roy / House Administration Committee) This bill creates a national voter photo ID mandate and requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. States would have to remove non-citizens from their official lists of eligible voters.

House Committee Highlights

A full list of this week’s hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:

Tuesday Hearings

Syria at a Crossroads: U.S. Policy Challenges Post-Assad (Committee on Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond (Committee on Ways and Means)

Priced Out of the American Dream: Understanding the Policies Behind Rising Costs of Housing and Borrowing (Committee on Financial Services)

Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS (Committee on Homeland Security)

All in for America250: Public-Private Partnerships Supporting America’s Semiquincentennial on our Public Lands (Committee on Natural Resources)

Defending Faith and Families Against Government Overreach: Mahmoud v. Taylor (Committee on Education and Workforce)

Make Elections Great Again: How to Restore Trust and Integrity in Federal Elections (Committee on House Administration)

Weaponized Mass Migration: A Security Risk to Europe and the United States (Committee on Foreign Affairs)

Wednesday Hearings

Oversight of the Department of Justice (Committee on the Judiciary)

Department of Justice Attorney General, Pam Bondi, is testifying

Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Committee on Financial Services)

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman, Paul Atkins, is testifying

Doing More with Less: Deleting Duplicative Programs (Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)

Oversight Hearing – Potential DHS Shutdown Impacts (Committee on Appropriations)

Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology (Committee on Education and Workforce)

Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain (Committee on Energy and Commerce)

Senate

Nominations

Daniel Burrows, to be an Assistant Attorney General

Senate Hearings

Tuesday

Haiti 2026: Security and Foreign Assistance Priorities (Appropriations)

A Review of Broadband Deployment Funding at the Department of Commerce (Appropriations)

Economic Self-Determination in Action: Examining the Small Business Administration Native 8(a) Program (Indian Affairs)

We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age (Commerce, Science, & Transportation)

Arctic Frost Accountability: Oversight of Telecommunications Carriers’ Responses to Jack Smith’s Witch Hunt (Judiciary)

Somali Fraud in Minnesota – The Tip of the Iceberg (Judiciary)

Examining Fraud and Foreign Influence in State and Federal Programs (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)

Wednesday

To receive testimony from the Senior Enlisted Leaders on servicemember and family quality of life (Armed Services)

Building a 21st Century VA Health Care System: Assessing the Next Generation of VA’s Community Care Network (Veterans’ Affairs)

The Doctor Is Out: How Washington’s Rules Drove Physicians Out of Medicine (Special Committee on Aging)

Thursday

NTSB to Testify on DCA Midair Collision Investigation (Commerce, Science, & Transportation)

Executive Business Meeting to Consider Legislation (Judiciary)

Oversight Hearing (Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)

To receive testimony on the American small drone industrial base (Armed Services)

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Evaluating North American Competitiveness (Committee on Finance)

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee to Receive Testimony on Pending Legislation (Energy & Natural Resources)

Restoring Integrity: Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions)

Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Banking)

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman, Paul Atkins, is testifying

ISSUES TO WATCH

DHS Funding Standoff Intensifies

Negotiations over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are entering a critical phase as lawmakers race to reach an agreement before the February 13 funding deadline. DHS is the only appropriations bill that is still unresolved after Congress passed a broader government funding package earlier this month. The short-term extension for DHS has set up a high-stakes standoff between Republicans and Democrats, with Democratic leaders using the deadline as leverage to push for stronger oversight and accountability reforms for federal immigration officers. This week’s hearings on DHS oversight are expected to also play a key role in shaping negotiations and determining whether lawmakers can avoid another partial government shutdown this Friday.

On Sunday, Senate Democrats circulated draft legislation to codify immigration enforcement guardrails, including new judicial warrant requirements and limits on masking by federal agents. It is unclear whether Republican leadership will continue to resist tying policy changes to the DHS funding bill. Without an agreement, a lapse in funding would be significant—potentially impacting 260,000 DHS employees, and threatening disruptions to airport security, emergency response, and other public safety personnel. Notably, a shutdown would not curb immigration enforcement activity given the funding boost in last summer’s GOP reconciliation package.

More on this:

Expert Survey on DHS, CBP, and ICE Reforms (Just Security)
DHS shutdown inching closer as funding deadline looms (The Hill)
Congress Has Ten Days to Stop Funding ICE’s Unchecked Abuse (National Immigration Law Center)