Press Releases
The Republican Recap: Week of February 9, 2026
Washington,
February 12, 2026
Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:
Defending the Integrity of American Elections ✅
The right to vote is a foundational principle of the United States, 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 week, House Republicans passed 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 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. “I’m grateful for the House’s passage of the SAVE America Act and want to thank my co-author in the Senate, Mike Lee, the Republican Leadership team including Chairman Steil and Majority Leader Scalise, and my good friend Cleta Mitchell for all their hard work getting this bill across the finish line. This legislation is a critical step toward restoring election integrity by ensuring only U.S. citizens are voting in federal elections and are showing ID. Over eighty percent of Americans—across party lines and across racial groups—support voter ID because it’s simple, reasonable, and common sense. I now call on the Senate to bring back the talking filibuster and force Democrats to explain to the American people why they oppose a basic election safeguard that enjoys broad bipartisan support,” said Rep. Roy. What Members Said: Chairman Bryan Steil supported the passage of S. 1383, emphasizing that these reforms will restore Americans' faith in our elections and ensure it remains easy to vote, but hard to cheat.
 Rep. Michael Cloud emphasized that 213 Democrats used their congressional photo ID to vote no on a voter ID bill.
 Cutting Red Tape and Lowering Housing Costs to Restore the American Dream ✅ A key component of the American Dream is homeownership, but recently, it has been out of reach for many. House Republicans passed legislation to lower housing costs for hardworking Americans, increase housing supply, expand local lending, and restore the American Dream. Burdensome and confusing regulatory processes makes it harder for homebuilders to construct affordable homes and, in turn, drives up costs for hardworking Americans seeking to purchase their own home. Our legislation cuts red tape by getting rid of environmental reviews for local home construction projects and duplicative inspections, resulting in faster timelines for builders and buyers. It also speeds up the homebuilding process by allowing the use of ready-to-use, pre-approved home designs so builders can get permits faster. Additionally, our legislation modernizes HUD programs and outdated banking regulations to expand local lending. Our legislation allows community banks to access more deposits so they can lend to more households and small businesses – that means rural communities will have better access to loans to help finance home purchases and construction. Chairman French Hill’s legislation, H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, drives down housing costs, streamlines homebuilding, increases housing supply, and expands local lending by cutting burdensome federal regulations, putting the American Dream back within reach for hardworking Americans. “Owning a home has been the cornerstone achievement many Americans have equated with attaining the American Dream. Our Committee has been laser-focused on creating solutions and we delivered for the American people. The passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act includes real, bipartisan solutions to expanding supply, lowering costs, and providing families with more options. I commend Ranking Member Waters, Subcommittee Chair Flood, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Cleaver on collaborating on this legislation and I look forward to ultimately bringing a bicameral product to the President’s desk,” said Chairman Hill. What Members Said: Rep. Mike Flood celebrated the passage of H.R. 6644 and highlighted that these commonsense wins cut red tape and will make the dream of homeownership a reality for more Americans.
 Rep. Young Kim noted that H.R. 6644 slashes unnecessary regulations, frees up community lending, and gets homes built faster so hardworking families don't pay the price for Democrats' failures.
 Enhancing Law Enforcement and Public Safety by Reclassifying Tasers ✅ Under current law, a firearm is defined as “any weapon which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.” That means that some conducted electrical weapons (CEWs), such as modern tasers, fall into the category of firearm because they expel probes and wires – despite carrying a substantially lower risk of death or serious injury. When Congress implemented the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), CEWs had not even been invented, so they couldn’t be taken into account when the firearm definition was formulated. Classifying CEWs as firearms overlooks their intended use of resolving high-risk encounters without deadly force and makes it harder for law enforcement to procure these critical de-escalation devices. Also, as the use of any firearm is considered deadly force by most states, it can result in the mischaracterization of police actions. House Republicans passed legislation to reclassify CEWs as “less-than-lethal” and give officers access to the tools they need to respond safely in unpredictable situations. This legislation includes Rep. David Schweikert’s Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act to ensure “less-than-lethal” tools are no longer treated the same as firearms under federal tax laws that were not designed for them. H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, amends federal gun laws to reclassify CEW devices like tasers meant to stop high-risk situations without using deadly force as “less-than-lethal projectile devices’’ instead of firearms, making it easier for law enforcement to procure these devices and enhancing officer and community safety. “Effective less-than-lethal weapons are essential for law enforcement to manage dangerous situations safely. As technology evolves, our laws must adapt to ensure departments have access to equipment that protects both officers and the public. The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act delivers on that goal, and I appreciate the support of my colleagues in making it a reality,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. What Members Said: Rep. Tim Burchett stressed that tasers are not handguns and shouldn't be regulated as such.
 House Republicans applauded the passage of H.R. 2189, which makes it easier for local police to get the tools they need to keep our communities safe.
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 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. This week, House Republicans passed 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. “This bill is a bold step toward ensuring the United States leads in energy innovation, security, and independence, and I’m thrilled to see it pass the House,” said Rep. James. “We cannot be the ‘land of the free’ if we choose to rely on critical mineral supply chains that are dependent on child and slave labor. This is about unleashing American energy, powering our factories, fueling innovation, and securing our future. It’s a massive step towards building an energy-independent America and putting an end to over-reliance on adversaries, dictators, and despots around the world.” What Members Said: Chairman Brett Guthrie highlighted that H.R. 3617 bolsters America's access to critical minerals that are essential to produce countless products in our daily lives and counters the Chinese Communist Party.
 Rep. Randy Weber underscored that we cannot rely on adversarial nations for key resources, and that H.R. 3617 fortifies American critical mineral supply chains that are essential to a reliable, affordable, and resilient energy industry.
 Safeguarding Undersea Cables to Bolster Connectivity and National Security ✅ 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 passed 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. “By passing this bill, we are advancing President Trump’s mandate to strengthen national security and cut burdensome red tape. Streamlining and improving the permitting processes behind our submarine cable infrastructure will help advance global connectivity and speed up deployment and maintenance, ensuring our cables are not subject to attacks from hostile foreign nations such as China,” said Rep. Carter. What Members Said: Rep. Max Miller emphasized that to compete with China, we must ensure the world is connected by undersea cables deployed and controlled by America, and that H.R. 261 makes these cables easier to build.
 The Natural Resources Committee outlined that H.R. 261 delivers common-sense permitting reform for America's digital infrastructure; stronger, diversified undersea cable routes; and advances President Trump's EO 14267.
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