This episode of Congress in Context explores a day of legislative momentum and deep division, headlined by the House's passage of the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act (H.R. 2189) to modernize firearms laws for less-than-lethal devices. While the House moved forward, the Senate grappled with a funding deadlock for the Department of Homeland Security, with members clashing over ICE accountability, the withdrawal of agents from Minneapolis, and the potential impact of a shutdown on critical agencies like FEMA and the TSA. The program also delves into the cultural and historical debates of the session, featuring impassioned floor speeches regarding Black History Month and "stolen legacies" alongside the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl LX victory. Through these diverse proceedings, the episode captures a Congress wrestling with the delicate balance between public safety, fiscal responsibility, and the preservation of constitutional rights.
Congressional Record Analysis of the following dates:
February 12, 2026
https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/browse-by-date
Bills Passed or Receiving Final Action
• H.R. 2189 — Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act: Passed the House (233–185). It modernizes firearms laws to exempt less-than-lethal projectile devices (such as newer taser models) from certain firearm classifications and excise taxes.
• H.J. Res. 142: Passed the Senate (49–47). This resolution disapproves of the District of Columbia Council's temporary amendment act regarding income and franchise taxes.
• H.R. 5616 — $2.50 for America’s 250th Act: Passed the House; technical changes were made to its final text. It authorizes the minting of numismatic coins.
• S. 3705: Signed by the Speaker and President pro tempore. This act provides for a congressional time capsule for the United States sesquicentennial.
Bills Considered but Not Passed
• H.R. 7147 — Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026: A motion to invoke cloture (end debate) failed in the Senate (52–47), as it did not reach the required three-fifths majority.
Notable Introductions (Among 86+ New Bills)
• H.R. 7521: A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
• H.R. 7531 / S. 3869 — Healthy Families Act: Legislation to allow Americans to earn paid sick time.
• S. 3863 — Pay Less at the Pump Act of 2026: A bill to terminate the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate.
• S. 3877 — Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act of 2026: A bill to address the training needs of workers likely to be impacted by automation.
Resolutions Agreed To
• S. Res. 610: Congratulating the Seattle Seahawks for winning Super Bowl LX.
• S. Res. 611: Authorizing the "Bipawtisan Doggi Gras Pawrade" in the Hart Senate Office Building.
