02.23.2026 - DC Download
It’s a lighter week in Washington as lawmakers shift their focus to President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. With a partial government shutdown in effect and negotiations over immigration funding still unresolved, the question now is whether tomorrow’s address moves the needle on negotiations—or hardens positions on both sides.
Read on for more of what’s happening this week.
Progressive Playbook
“Communities Not Cages Toolkit”
Detention Watch Network has launched a live toolkit to support organizations working to fight detention expansion and deportations. The toolkit outlines state-level legislative options to limit cooperation with ICE, reduce detentions, and oppose new or expanded facilities.
As federal negotiations over DHS funding continue, this resource provides a roadmap for communities seeking to push back at the state and local level.
Read the toolkit here.
House
House Floor
The House will vote on six suspension bills from the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform. 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. 4758 – Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (Sponsored by Rep. Goldman (TX) / Energy and Commerce Committee) This bill repeals grant programs to help low-and-moderate income households purchase qualifying energy efficient appliances. It also eliminates grants that help states and localities adopt updated energy efficient building codes and energy efficiency improvements.
H.R. 4626 – Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act (Sponsored by Rep. Allen / Energy and Commerce Committee) This bill repeals a requirement for the Department of Energy to periodically update energy efficiency requirements for appliances.
House Committee Highlights
A full list of this week’s hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:
Tuesday Hearings
Advancing National Security through Commercial Diplomacy (Committee on Foreign Affairs)
Advancing the Next Generation of America’s Health Care Workforce (Committee on Ways and Means)
Markup of H.R. ___, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act (Committee on the Judiciary)
Powering America's AI Future: Assessing Policy Options to Increase Data Center Infrastructure (Committee on Science, Space, and Technology)
Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age (Committee on Education and Workforce)
Balancing Careers and Care: Examining Innovative Approaches to Paid Leave (Committee on Education and Workforce)
From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water (Committee on Energy and Commerce)
Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2026 - Administration Priorities (Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure)
Senate
Hearings
Tuesday
To receive testimony on rebuilding American critical minerals supply chains (Armed Services)
Legislative Presentation of Disabled American Veterans & Multi VSOs (Veterans’ Affairs)
Wednesday
Nominations hearing (Energy & Natural Resources)
Nominations hearing (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions)
Hearing to Examine the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects, Programs, and Priorities (Environment & Public Works)
From Fraud to Recovery: Restoring Integrity in Small Business Programs (Small Business & Entrepreneurship)
Thursday
Nominations hearing (Armed Services)
Executive session to consider legislation (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions)
Executive Business Meeting to consider nominations and legislation (Judiciary)
From Regulator to Roadblock: How FDA Bureaucracy Stifles Innovation (Special Committee on Aging)
Update from the Prudential Regulators: Rightsizing Regulation to Promote American Opportunity (Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs)
ISSUES TO WATCH
DHS Shutdown
The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ongoing after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement before the February 13 deadline. Draft proposals circulating among Democrats would strengthen judicial warrant requirements and limit certain Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices, while Republicans have continued to insist on a clean funding bill or significantly weaker guardrails.
Due to the substantial ICE funding boost included in last summer’s reconciliation package, immigration enforcement activity continues largely uninterrupted during the shutdown. Instead, the most immediate impacts are being felt across other DHS components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), where employees will soon miss a full paycheck.
Attention now turns to whether President Trump addresses the standoff during his State of the Union speech—and whether negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats shift in the days that follow.
More on this: Republicans eye opening for DHS deal this week as Democrats double down (The Hill)
What We’re Reading
Inhospitable: How U.S. Immigration Policy is Harming the Hospitality Sector (Unite Here)
What it Means to be a White “Race Traitor” (NYT)
Mapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas (PRRI)
Middle-class Americans are selling their plasma to make ends meet (NBC News)
Supreme Court Ruling Curbs Trump’s Authority, But Tariff Chaos and Higher Prices Remain (Groundwork)
KEY DATES
February 1-28: Black History Month
February 26-March 2: House in recess
March 1-31: Women's History Month
March 8: International Women's Dayr