Critical Minerals and Overturning DC Taxes

This episode of Congress in Context captures a pivotal day of debate and legislative action on February 4, 2026, as the House and Senate address escalating controversies surrounding ICE enforcement following tragic incidents in Minneapolis and Chicago. We break down the passage of the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, a strategic effort to bolster domestic mining and confront China's grip on global supply chains. The program also examines the clash over D.C. home rule as lawmakers vote to overturn a local tax law, while others raise concerns about an alarming trend of historical erasure regarding slavery and internment sites in national parks. Finally, we look at the sobering fiscal reality of the national debt and the resilient community response to the devastation of Winter Storm Fern in the South.

Congressional Record Analysis of the following dates:

February 4, 2026

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/browse-by-date

Legislation Passed or Acted Upon

• H.R. 4090 (Critical Mineral Dominance Act): Passed the House. It codifies executive orders to boost domestic mining and reduce reliance on foreign adversarial states for hardrock and rare earth minerals.

• H.J. Res. 142: Passed the House. A joint resolution disapproving the District of Columbia Council’s "D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025".

• H.R. 7148: Signed into law. It provides further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

• S.J. Res. 102: The Senate version of the resolution disapproving the D.C. tax law, reported favorably by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Key Newly Introduced Bills

• S. 3777 / H.R. 7340 (Rebuild America’s Schools Act): A major proposal to provide $130 billion in grants and bonds for the long-term improvement and resilience of public school facilities.

• S. 3780: A bill to provide for increases in the federal minimum wage.

• H.R. 7346: An amendment to the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" specifically to remove funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• S. 3779 / H.R. 7363: Legislation to limit the Department of Homeland Security's use of facial recognition technology.

• H.R. 7359: A bill to implement an immigration moratorium for certain citizens or nationals of Somalia.

• S. 3775 / H.R. 7354 (Stop Underrides Act): A bill to reduce truck crash fatalities by enhancing underride protection on trailers and semitrailers.

• H.R. 7381: A bill to impose a tax on damages received by the President on account of civil actions filed against the United States.

• S. 3772: A bill to extend the authority of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.