Immigration Enforcement Reconciliation: The Senate passed S.Con.Res.33 (50-48), which is a $70 million blueprint for long-term immigration enforcement funding. The budget resolution instructs both the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Judiciary Committees to write legislation that will raise the federal deficit by no more than $70 billion each. The resolution’s approval in both chambers allows the Senate to bypass the filibuster and pass fiscal policy with a simple majority rather than the typical 60 votes necessary to move legislation. The new funding would be expected to run through Trump’s presidency, which ends in January 2029. The House is set to take up the measure the week of April 27th.

Reliable Federal Infrastructure: The House passed H.R.4690 (215-202), which would modernize federal building standards by repealing rigid energy efficiency mandates, specifically Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It seeks to lower construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and ensure project-specific flexibility.

Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE): The House passed H.R.6387 (220-198), which would encourage wildfire mitigation efforts and clarify how those efforts would be treated with respect to air quality monitoring protocols under the 1963 Clean Air Act. The bill excludes emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events from federal air quality reviews under the Clean Air Act.

Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews: The House passed H.R.1681, which would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to create an interagency “strike force” to prioritize reviews of applications to deploy broadband facilities on federal land.

Emergency Reporting: The House passed H.R.5200, which would strengthen 9-1-1 networks by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue reports following major natural disasters on the extent to which people were unable to reach 9-1-1, and to develop recommendations to improve outage reporting, resiliency, and coordination with state and local officials. The bill also directs the FCC to review unreported outages and develop recommendations for mobile carriers to better notify 9-1-1 centers of disruptions, ensuring that first responders are not left in the dark during life-threatening events.

Kari’s Law Reporting: The House passed H.R.5201, which would build on the 2018 law by requiring the FCC to report on the extent to which multi-line telephone system (MLTS) manufacturers and vendors have complied with the requirement that callers be able to reach 9-1-1 directly without dialing additional digits. Kari’s Law was enacted after the tragic murder of Kari Hunt in 2013, when her daughter’s repeated attempts to call 9-1-1 from a hotel phone failed because the system required dialing “9” before any call.

Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization: The House passed H.R.2493, which would increase access to health care services and preventive screenings, improve chronic disease management and health outcomes, expand telehealth services, and reduce emergency department visits for the nearly 500,000 individuals who receive direct services from these programs annually.

Build More Hydro: Congress passed S.1020, which would extend construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects nationwide and increase American energy production. Hydropower supplies baseload electricity to over 30 million homes, provides 96% of utility-scale energy storage, and remains vital to flood control, water storage, irrigation, and grid reliability services. 

Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS): The House passed H.R.5587 (231-186), which is a bipartisan bill that aims to expedite geothermal development by allowing state permits to replace federal drilling permits on land where the federal government owns less than 50% of the subsurface estate. It classifies these projects as non-major actions, exempting them from NEPA environmental reviews.

Expressing Support for Rural Communities: The House passed H.Res.1182 (220-196), which highlights legislation and policies they say would "unleash domestic energy production, enhance health care quality and access, bolster manufacturing capacity, and increase broadband connectedness."

Farm, Food, and National Security: The House is set to take up H.R. 7567, which aims to update farm programs through 2031. It focuses on strengthening commodity support, enhancing conservation, reducing rural energy costs, and addressing foreign investment in U.S. farmland.

PROTECT Kids:  The House is set to consider H.R. 2616 , which requires public elementary and middle schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name, or altering sex-based accommodations.

Foreign Intelligence Accountability: S.1318 will be brought up for consideration this week. It proposes key amendments to the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. It aims to ensure Members of Congress access to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), strengthens penalties for violations, enhances amicus curiae roles, and improves whistleblower protections within intelligence gathering. The measure still doesn't include a warrant requirement regarding FBI searches tied to Americans' communication that is swept up in the program.

War Powers: The House failed to pass H.Con.Res.40 (213-214), which calls for the termination of U.S. military action against Iran unless authorized by Congress. Meanwhile, the Senate also failed to bring a related measure, S.J.138 (47-52), to the floor that would also have directed the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran.

The U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 launched a major military operation against Iran after negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear and missile programs effectively stalled. Although the air strikes against the Iranian regime have essentially eliminated the Iranian Navy and severely degraded its missile and drone capability, Iran closed the narrow Strait of Hormuz — through which 20% of the world's oil supply passes — to effectively hold the global economy hostage and create a global energy crisis.

Weapons Sales to Israel: The Senate failed to bring two resolutions to the floor S.J.Res.32 (40-59) and S.J.Res.138 (36-63), that would provide for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.

Haiti Temporary Protected Status (TPS): The House passed H.R.1689 (224-204), which extends for three years — through April 2029 — Haiti's designation under the Homeland Security Department's Temporary Protected Status immigration program, which would enable those Haitians currently in the U.S. who are covered by TPS to remain in the country through that time. TPS was first granted in 2010 following a devastating earthquake in Haiti and has been repeatedly extended as the nation has struggled to recover and in recent years has been rocked by political instability and violence.

Foreign Emissions Exclusion: The House passed H.R.6409 (220-208), which exempt pollution from foreign sources—such as wildfires, dust storms, or industrial activity—when determining if US areas meet air quality standards. The bill reins in government overreach and protects states, energy producers, and manufacturers by bringing long-overdue clarity and fairness standards to the Clean Air Act. It aims to prevent states from being penalized for air quality issues beyond their control.

RED Tape: The House passed H.R.6398 (222-205), which removes the requirement under the Clean Air Act that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and comment on newly authorized federal construction projects and other major federal agency actions that already require review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and proposed federal regulations.

Aviation Safety: The House passed H.R.7613, which would boost aviation safety requirements in response to a 2025 midair collision near Washington that killed 67 people. The bill addresses dozens of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board to prevent future tragedies, but faces opposition from critics in the Senate. Families of Flight 5342, a group established after the 2025 collision, said ahead of the House vote it opposes the ALERT Act because it lacks a “clearly defined and transparent timeframe” for requiring safety technology.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement: The House passed H.R.1011, which is a bipartisan legislation introduced in 2025 to streamline service Agency (FSA) assistance. It enhances the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) by allowing advance payments (up to 75%) and expanding eligibility for non-natural wildfire damage.

Minnesota's Superior National Forest: Congress passed H.J.Res.140, which would repeal the Bureau of Land Management's 2023Land Order No. 7917. This action revokes a 20-year mining ban on 225,504 acres of federal land in northeastern Minnesota's Superior National Forest, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, aiming to reopen the area to mining.

Reliable Federal Infrastructure: The House is set to take up H.R.4690, which would modernize federal building standards by repealing rigid energy efficiency mandates, specifically Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It seeks to lower construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and ensure project-specific flexibility.

Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources: The House will also take up H.R.5587, which is a bipartisan bill that aims to expedite geothermal development by allowing state permits to replace federal drilling permits on land where the federal government owns less than 50% of the subsurface estate. It classifies these projects as non-major actions, exempting them from NEPA environmental reviews.

Endangered Species Act Amendments: House members will be considering H.R.1897, which seeks to reform the 1973 ESA by streamlining permitting, increasing state management roles, and focusing on species recovery rather than long-term listing.

American Broadband Deployment: H.R.2289 will be brought to the House floor and is aimed at accelerating internet infrastructure expansion by reducing regulatory hurdles, specifically limiting local government control over permitting and bypassing environmental reviews for certain projects.

DHS Funding: As of late March 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is in the midst of a record-setting partial government shutdown, now in its 44th day. The impasse stems from a funding dispute in Congress: the House passed a full-year funding bill, but Senate Democrats blocked it with a filibuster. In contrast, the Senate approved a partial funding measure that excluded funding and policy changes for ICE; however, House Republicans rejected that proposal, insisting on funding for immigration enforcement and opposing any reforms to ICE. Both Chambers have left for a two-week recess without funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

 American Property: The House passed (247-164) H.R. 7084, the Defending American Property Abroad Act, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, imposes retaliatory prohibitions to deter and punish any foreign nation that unlawfully seizes American assets, making sure American businesses are safeguarded from unjust expropriation.

 Iran War Powers: The Senate voted down S.J.Res.116 (47-53), which would direct the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by Congress. This is the second time in a month the Senate has voted down a measure of this kind. More measures are expected to be taken up in the near future.

 Pay Our Homeland Defenders: The House passed H.R.8029 (218-206),  which is the third funding bill passed to provide appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the remainder of FY2026. Due to Senate passage of another funding bill, this one is now dead. 

 Support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security: The House passed H.Res.1128 (225-187), which is a nonbinding resolution that expresses support for fully funding DHS. Funding only some DHS agencies would “degrade” coordination, the measure states, and “create uncertainty in an increasingly heightened threat environment.”

 Abortion Services and Counseling for Veterans: The Senate rejected (48-50) a motion a procedural motion to advance S.J.Res.103, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution intended to nullify the final rule published on December 31, 2025, which stripped back 2022 policy allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the health of the veteran.

 Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful: The House passed H.R.5103 (218-206), which would establish a federal commission to oversee and coordinate law enforcement in Washington, DC, and a new program would seek to maintain cleanliness in the city, under H.R. 5103. The bill would largely codify a March 2025 executive order, which established a similar commission and program. Among its stated goals are to encourage “maximum enforcement” of federal immigration laws in the DC area.

American Water Stewardship: The House passed H.R.6422, reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Long Island Sound and Columbia River Basin Restoration programs, the National Estuary Program, and the EPA’s BEACH Act program. All of these programs will help address water quality issues and carry out ecosystem restoration projects around the country.

Congress will be on Recess March 30th through April 13th, in observance of the Easter Holiday. They will return to normally scheduled business on April 14th.  Be looking for your next R&P on April 20th.

Iran War Powers: The Senate voted down S.J.Res.118 (47-53), which would direct the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by Congress. This is the second time in a month the Senate has voted down a measure of this kind. More measures are expected to be taken up in the near future.

Deporting Fraudsters: The House passed H.R.1958 (231-186), which makes foreign nationals inadmissible to the United States and deportable if they admit to or are convicted of defrauding the federal government or unlawfully receiving federal benefits administered by federal, state or local governments.

Federal Working Animal Protection: The House passed H.R.4638 (228-190), which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to expand the grounds for inadmissibility for noncitizen migrants who are convicted of, admit to having committed, or admit committing acts that constitute harming animals used in law enforcement.

Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals (BOWOW): The House passed H.R.4638 (228-190), which makes foreign nationals inadmissible to the United States and deportable if they are convicted of, or admit to, harming animals used in law enforcement operations.

Small Business Innovation and Economic Security: The House passed S.3971, which would reauthorizes through FY2031 and modify the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, and related pilot programs. Specifically, the bill expands the requirements for federal agencies administering these programs to evaluate the security risks of the small businesses that apply for awards under the programs. If an agency denies an application for security reasons, the agency must provide the small business with the basis for such a determination.

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers: The House passed H.R.556 (215-202), would prohibit the Interior and Agriculture departments from banning the use of lead-based hunting ammunition and fishing tackle or limiting the level of lead in those items for use on federal lands or waters. It allows exemptions for particular lands or waters if the area is experiencing a decline in wildlife populations due to the use of lead ammo or tackle.

Mitigation Action and Watermen Support: The House passed H.R.4294, which requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a pilot program to facilitate the purchase of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Under the program, NOAA must enter into cooperative agreements with manufacturers or processors of pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed for the purchase of blue catfish from watermen and seafood processors. NOAA must determine the minimum price per pound after considering market factors; feedback from watermen, seafood processors, and participants in the program; and differentiation of price points for fillet and byproduct. 

The House is planning to vote this week on another bill to fund the Homeland Security Department, which is entering its sixth week of a partial shutdown, along with a resolution expressing gratitude for DHS employees.

Senators met with officials over the weekend to seek an agreement on reopening the department and modifying immigration enforcement procedures,  and is expected to vote to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Rules Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow on the two DHS measures, along with bills to create a commission to oversee crime prevention efforts in Washington, DC, and to prevent vessels from entering US ports if they previously visited Western Hemisphere countries where US-owned port facilities have been seized.

The House Rules Committee is set to meet on March 24 to set the terms of floor debate on the four measures, which would need simple majorities for passage or adoption.

The House is slated to consider another 15 measures under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority. The list includes a measure to update Federal Aviation Administration regulations to allow civilian aircraft to operate at supersonic speeds in US airspace, and a measure to allow recreational drones to be flown in a broader range of airspace. Action is also planned on a bill that would create an alternative regulatory system for the professional boxing industry, through “unified boxing organizations.”

House business is planned for tomorrow through Friday, according to the weekly schedule from Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).

FY 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations — HR 8029, Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act. The House this week will again consider a stand-alone FY 2026 Homeland Security spending bill that is nearly identical to the bipartisan negotiated version dropped from a final spending package in January after the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. The shutdown of DHS is entering its sixth week, and Republicans say it must be fully funded to protect the homeland against rising threats sparked by the war with Iran. Democrats continue to staunchly oppose funding ICE and CBP without substantive changes to immigration enforcement practices, and have proposed funding the department outside of those agencies — filing a discharge petition on a measure to do so. While Democrats and the White House have continued to exchange "reform" proposals, each accuses the other of not negotiating seriously. The measure is expected to be considered under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. (Write Congress)

Express Support for Full DHS Funding — H Res 1128, Supporting the Homeland Security Department. The resolution states that the House recognizes the importance of fully funding the Homeland Security Department and that partial funding of individual DHS components would create uncertainty in a heightened threat environment. Although DHS is "shut down," most Homeland employees continue to work, as they are considered essential. More than 300 TSA workers have resigned, which has drastically increased airline passenger security wait times at airports. The measure is expected to be considered under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. (Write Congress)

Defending American Property — HR 7084, Defending American Property Abroad Act. The bill authorizes the president to deny entry into U.S. ports to vessels that use ports in Western Hemisphere countries that have free trade agreements with the U.S. and have seized American property — which is intended to apply a port in Mexico developed by the U.S. company Vulcan Materials that has been seized by the Mexican government. Republicans say it protects American companies by imposing serious consequences on foreign governments that steal from Americans. Democrats say it is written to benefit one company and grants the president a power that could be exploited to serve a rogue foreign policy agenda. The measure is expected to be considered under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. (Write Congress)

Federal Commission for D.C. Safety & Maintenance — HR 5103, Make the District of Columbia Safe & Beautiful Act. The bill establishes a federal commission to promote collaboration with the D.C. local government to enforce federal immigration priorities and increase the processing of concealed carry license requests. It also requires the Interior Department to coordinate and maintain District monuments and public spaces. Republicans say it is essential to maintain the lower crime rates achieved by the collaboration between the District and federal law enforcement. Democrats say it continues the erosion of District home rule and simply seeks to support President Trump's desire to control the city. The measure is expected to be considered under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. (Write Congress)