Abnormal is the New Normal
by Amy West, GovTrack.us, Feb. 27, 2026
The legislative week was even shorter than usual due to a big snowstorm that affected flights into Washington, D.C. and the State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24.
ROTOR Act Failed; May Have Been the Weather
The pattern in this Congress has been that bills that have support of a majority of House members, regardless of party, are brought to the floor for votes under suspension of the rules. This means they need a 2/3rds majority to pass. But since the bills brought this way are usually extremely popular across the board, they typically pass by very large margins.
The ROTOR Act was expected to follow this pattern. There were a few House members who opposed the bill, but it had been crafted with bipartisan support in the Senate, addressed NTSB recommendations that came out of the airplane crash in Washington, D.C. in January 2025 and had support from a wide range of stakeholders. The House members who objected have their own bill which has fewer requirements and more exceptions and has yet to have a vote in the House.
However, thanks to weather-related transportation delays, enough Democrats (26) had not yet made it back to Congress when the vote was held. As a result, it failed by a single vote.
It's not clear what the next steps will be or when they'll happen.
Rep. Green Removed from State of the Union for Anti-Racist Sign
Recently, the President reposted a video that included virulently racist content directed at the Obamas. Rep. Green (D-TX9) protested the President's post (and presumably the President's unrepentant approval of the racist content) with a sign at the event. Since Tuesday, Rep. Rulli (R-OH6) has declared that he will introduce a censure resolution because apparently objecting to racism at the State of the Union is worse than posting racist content in the first place.
Rep. Gonzales Sent Coercive Sexual Texts to Aide
Texts sent by Rep. Gonzales (R-TX23) which repeatedly demanded sexual images and acts from an aide were published this week. It's alleged that Gonzales and the aide had an affair - a violation of House Ethics Rules. Later, for reasons still not determined, she committed suicide. While investigations are already ongoing, House Rules prohibit the release of them this close to a primary. So, more to come on what, if any, punishment Gonzales will face for sexually harassing his former aide.
Is Any of DHS Shutdown?
According to Semafor, 120,000 DHS employees are working without pay and the FEMA Disaster Fund is nearly out of money.
On the other hand, the Coast Guard got paid this week according to Jamie Dupree.
There's no sign of progress on DHS annual funding yet which means only those parts of DHS (ICE and CBP mostly) which benefited from last year's reconciliation bill have Congressionally approved funding. How other parts of DHS are still able to operate normally, like the Coast Guard, is unknown so far.
No Votes Yet on War with Iran
Politico reports that the anti-Iran War resolution co-sponsored by Reps. Khanna (D-CA17) and Massie (R-KY4) is being intentionally held until next week at the request of Democratic House leadership.
Votes in the House
None of these bills is anywhere near becoming law. They still need to pass in the Senate.
H.R. 4626: Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act, which would make appliances less energy efficient, passed 217-190.
See you all next week.
Weekly Updates
Feb. 24, 2026, 1:57 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 6329: Information Quality Assurance Act of 2025
Passed 362/1
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 2:04 p.m. — Vote
S. 2503: ROTOR Act
Failed 264/133
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 2:11 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 1075: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4626) to amend the Energy Policy …
Passed 208/189
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 2:18 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 1075: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4626) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standard for a product that is not technologicall
Passed 208/187
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: No
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: No
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 4:31 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit: H.R. 4626: Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act
Failed 197/208
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 4:39 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 4626: Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act
Passed 217/190
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 24, 2026, 5:01 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 7147
Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected 50/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay
Trackers: Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 25, 2026 — Introduced
H.R. 7716: To prohibit the imposition of additional tariffs on agricultural inputs imported from countries to which the United States has extended normal trade relations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2].
Feb. 25, 2026, 10:28 a.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit: H.R. 4758: Homeowner Energy Freedom Act
Failed 198/208
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 25, 2026, 10:40 a.m. — Vote
H.R. 4758: Homeowner Energy Freedom Act
Passed 210/199
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2], Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 25, 2026, 12:02 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: John DeLeeuw to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board: John DeLeeuw, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for the remainder of the term expiring December 31, 2026
Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay
Trackers: Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 25, 2026, 2:15 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN730-19: John DeLeeuw, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for the remainder of the term expiring December 31, 2026
Nomination Confirmed 50/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Nay
Trackers: Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 26, 2026 — Introduced
H.Res. 1089: Expressing support for the designation of February 2026 as “Hawaiian Language Month” or “’Olelo Hawai’i Month”.
Sponsor: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2]
This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2].
Feb. 26, 2026, 11:42 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Ryan McCormack to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy: Ryan McCormack, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy
Cloture Motion Agreed to 60/34
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Trackers: Roll Call Votes.
Feb. 26, 2026, 1:30 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN730-46: Ryan McCormack, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy
Nomination Confirmed 57/33
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Nay
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Trackers: Roll Call Votes.