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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Washington, February 11, 2026
Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:
 
Defending the Integrity of American Elections

The right to vote is a foundational principle of the United States of America, and its integrity must be protected. Federal law states that it is illegal for foreign nationals and noncitizens to vote in U.S. federal elections or donate with regards to federal, state, or local elections.

However, as we’ve seen in states like Texas and New Jersey, noncitizens continue to unlawfully register to vote and vote, diluting the votes of American citizens and potentially allowing foreign interference in our elections.

Around 10 million illegal immigrants came across our southern border thanks to President Biden’s open border policies, including more than 400 illegal aliens on the terrorist watchlist. Now more than ever it is vital we shore up our election security and ensure that only American citizens are voting in American elections.

Last year, the House passed the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and improve the ability of states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. This keeps foreign interference out of our elections, maintains election integrity, and increases American citizens’ trust in our federal elections.

House Republicans are bringing forward the SAVE America Act to build on the SAVE Act. In addition to proof of citizenship, this legislation includes a voter ID requirement – a provision the the vast majority of Americans support: 83% of Americans are in favor of requiring a photo ID to vote, including 71% of Democrats, 82% of Hispanic Americans, and 76% of Black Americans.
 

S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and an eligible photo identification document before voting in federal elections, shoring up our election integrity.

This should not be controversial. House Republicans will continue fighting to protect the integrity of one of American citizens’ most fundamental rights: the right to vote.
 
 
Strengthening Critical Mineral Supply Chains to Bolster National Security

Critical minerals are the backbone of modern defense, technology, clean energy, AI, and more, making them indispensable to everyday life. With global demand for critical minerals surging, securing these resources is essential for maintaining America’s competitive edge and global leadership.

Despite having abundant natural resources right here in America, excessive permitting burdens and red tape under prior administrations obstructed development of America’s natural resources, hindering U.S. mining projects and limiting access to these crucial domestic resources.

These misguided policies leave us reliant on foreign adversaries like Communist China – which dominates the world’s critical minerals processing – for our critical mineral needs, threatening America’s security and competitive edge in the 21st century. Currently, China maintains 60 percent of the world’s production of rare earth elements and 90 percent of their global processing capacity.

Today, House Republicans are bringing forward legislation to incentivize domestic production and manufacturing, strengthen our critical energy resource supply chains, build an energy-independent America, and secure our future.

H.R. 3617, the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act, sponsored by Rep. John James, unleashes domestic production and bolsters America’s critical mineral supply chain by requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess and strengthen critical energy resource supply chains, reducing our reliance on foreign adversaries and enhancing our energy independence.

House Republicans won’t stop fighting to defend our energy, economic, and national security by ensuring America doesn’t have to depend on adversaries for critical minerals.

Safeguarding Undersea Cables to Bolster Connectivity and National Security

Lying on the ocean floor, undersea fiber-optic cables make up the critical foundation of global telecommunications and internet infrastructure, carrying over 95 percent of international data. They transmit information at high speeds, enabling global internet, financial transactions, and communication.

Currently, however, the permitting process to site, install, and approve these cables involves various agencies across the federal, state, and local levels, creating tedious and duplicative barriers for licensees looking to build and preserve undersea cables.

Under the National Marine Sanctuary Act (NMSA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorizes 5-year Special Use Permits (SUPs) for certain activities within a national marine sanctuary, including the construction and maintenance of cables. But it often takes years to acquire SUPs, not to mention the additional burdens and costs they come with. 

These cables are crucial for modern life and ensuring reliable, high-speed, and secure connectivity – restricting our ability to build and preserve undersea cables with regulatory hurdles poses a significant threat to our national security and digital economy.

House Republicans are bringing forward legislation to strengthen our national security and bolster global connectivity by cutting this burdensome red tape, streamlining the permitting process, and safeguarding America’s submarine cable infrastructure.

Rep. Buddy Carter’s legislation, H.R. 261, the Undersea Cable Protection Act, amends NMSA to block the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting or requiring a permit for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have already been authorized by federal and state agencies, getting rid of duplicative permitting laws while protecting national marine sanctuaries.

With this legislation, House Republicans are not only safeguarding our infrastructure and national security, but also securing America’s position on the world stage leading the digital economy and global communications.