Congressional Record — February 2, 2026

Overview of the day

On February 2, 2026, the House of Representatives passed several measures under suspension of the rules focusing on veterans' affairs, administrative updates, and the establishment of a medal for fallen first responders. The House also swore in Representative Christian D. Menefee of Texas and held a special order hour commemorating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The Senate conducted executive session business regarding judicial nominations, discussed national security concerns over the Chagos Islands and allegations of corruption involving the Trump administration, and processed various committee reports and communications.

Summary of the House proceedings

H.R. 3497 was passed to establish a medal of service, known as the Medal of Sacrifice, for law enforcement officers and first responders who were killed in the line of duty.

H.R. 988 was passed to move the place of incorporation, domicile, and principal office of the National Woman's Relief Corps to Illinois.

H.R. 980 was passed to improve the provision of on-campus educational and vocational counseling by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including removing certain degree requirements for campus officers and allowing benefits for non-degree flight training.

H.R. 3123 was passed to ensure that due and unpaid pensions are paid to a veteran's next of kin or estate if the veteran dies after the benefit is awarded but before payment is issued.

H.R. 658 was passed to expand qualifications for marriage and family therapists qualified to provide clinical supervision in the Veterans Health Administration.

H.R. 1458 was passed to modify the criteria for approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 6536 was reported to require Federal banking agencies to study improving the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of rural depository institutions.

H.R. 6547 was reported to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide an exception to the least-cost resolution requirement.

H.R. 6556 was reported to prohibit the use of certain concentration limit exceptions with respect to mergers involving a failed bank.

H.R. 4242 was reported to modernize the National Firearms Act to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons.

H.R. 2072 was reported to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period for licensees to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

H.R. 7305 was introduced to reauthorize the Department of Energy's Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyberresilience Program.

H.R. 7306 was introduced to terminate unemployment insurance benefit payments under the CARES Act.

H.R. 7307 was introduced to establish procedures for disposing of residual inventory upon the completion of Department of State and USAID programs.

H.R. 7308 was introduced to establish requirements for video programming delivered using internet protocol under the CALM Act.

H.R. 7309 was introduced to create a pilot program for digital community resource guides to aid reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals.

H.R. 7310 was introduced to establish protocols for investigating the use of deadly force by Federal law enforcement officers.

H.R. 7311 was introduced to authorize sanctions against foreign persons or entities that obstruct Lebanon's electoral process.

H.R. 7312 was introduced to establish a national task force to combat fraud involving Federal dollars.

H.R. 7313 was introduced to designate a postal facility in St. Petersburg, Florida, as the Poul Hornsleth Post Office.

H.R. 7314 was introduced to advance commonsense policies.

H.R. 7315 was introduced to advance policy priorities.

H.R. 7316 was introduced to require cybersecurity regulations and EMV technology for EBT cards under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

H.R. 7317 was introduced to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Golden Thirteen.

H.R. 7318 was introduced to expand the national organic certification cost-share program.

H.R. 7319 was introduced to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recoup certain awards, bonuses, and relocation expenses from former employees.

H.R. 7320 was introduced to prohibit funding to the State of Minnesota until voting reporting requirements are satisfied.

H.R. 7321 was introduced to establish length limitations on certain vehicles transported by heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicles.

H.R. 7322 was introduced to provide appropriations for Federal employees and contractors during appropriations lapses in fiscal year 2026.

H.J. Res. 147 was introduced to terminate the national emergency imposing duties on articles imported from Brazil.

H.J. Res. 148 was introduced to designate the week of February 2, 2026, through February 6, 2026, as National School Counseling Week.

H. Con. Res. 72 was introduced to authorize the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a Holocaust remembrance ceremony.

H. Res. 1029 was introduced to provide for consideration of H.R. 6636.

H. Res. 1030 was introduced to end ICE abuse.

H. Res. 1031 was introduced to condemn the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

S. 282 was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

S. 3705 was reported as having been passed by the Senate.

H.R. 7148 was reported as having been passed with amendments by the Senate.

H.J. Res. 142 was mentioned regarding a statement on congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.

Summary of Senate proceedings

S. 3755 was reported by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to provide for a system of regulation of the offer and sale of digital commodities by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

S. 3756 was introduced to require the Bureau of the Census to incorporate the distributional analysis of household income used by the Congressional Budget Office when measuring poverty.

S. 3757 was introduced to establish eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools operating outside the United States and Canada.

S. 3758 was introduced to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make opioid overdose rescue medications available to veterans and their caregivers.

S. 3759 was introduced to reinstate the special rate calculation of the clean fuel production credit for sustainable aviation fuel and extend the credit through 2033.

S. 3760 was introduced to terminate unemployment insurance benefit payments under the CARES Act and rescind unobligated balances.

H.R. 7147 was placed on the calendar.

The Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination of David Clay Fowlkes to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.

The Senate began consideration of the nomination of Megan Blair Benton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

The Senate began consideration of the nomination of Brian Charles Lea to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.

Written by an AI model from that day's Congressional Record, not by a person. It was too long to read in one pass, so it was analysed in 4 parts and merged. .