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Below is this week’s congressional update by BakerHostetler’s <a href="https://www.bakerlaw.com/services/federal-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Federal Policy</a> team. We’ll continue to post in weeks when both chambers of Congress are in session.

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The U.S. and Iran are at war after Israel and the U.S. launched targeted strikes decapitating the Iranian government this past weekend.

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Responses from Congress to the conflict are mixed, and lawmakers <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/foreign-policy/congress-iran-war/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plan</a> to take action to assert their constitutional authority to declare war.

The center of the political universe is in Texas, where Tuesday’s primary will determine each party’s nominees in November’s general election – and longtime Sen. John Cornyn is in the political <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5762317-texas-senate-primary-poll/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fight</a> of his life.

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The House will hold floor <a href="https://www.majorityleader.gov/schedule/weekly-schedule.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">votes</a> Wednesday and Thursday, including a war powers <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hconres38/BILLS-119hconres38ih.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resolution</a> directing an end to the armed hostilities in Iran.

The Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight <a href="https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-department-homeland-security-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hearing</a> Wednesday with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Thursday, Defense Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will <a href="https://armedservices.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=6408" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testify</a> regarding defense strategy and posture at the Armed Services Committee.

The full schedule of House committee activity can be found <a href="https://www.house.gov/legislative-activity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

The Senate <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/inside-congress/2026/02/27/dems-affordability-agenda-tbd-00803118" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plans</a> to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/floor_activity_pail.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">take up</a> its version of bipartisan housing <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6644" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legislation</a> that the House passed last month, plus a war powers <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/104" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resolution</a>.

Noem will testify tomorrow at an oversight <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-of-the-department-of-homeland-security-03-03-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hearing</a> at the Judiciary Committee.

Also tomorrow, Colby will <a href="https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-receive-an-update-on-the-national-defense-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testify</a> on the National Defense Strategy at the Armed Services Committee.

The full list of Senate committee meetings can be found <a href="https://www.senate.gov/committees/hearings_meetings.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

President Donald Trump is in Washington as hostilities with Iran are ongoing, today <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/290785/president_trump_to_award_medal_of_honor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">awarding</a> the Medal of Honor to three soldiers.

Tomorrow, he will <a href="https://x.com/bundeskanzler/status/2028155394019795371" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meet</a> with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Thursday, Trump plans to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48048786/trump-college-leaders-tackle-issues-roundtable" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">host</a> a roundtable on the future of college athletics.

The Weekly Hill Update