[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 27 (Monday, February 9, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    DISAPPROVING THE ACTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL IN 
  APPROVING THE D.C. INCOME AND FRANCHISE TAX CONFORMITY AND REVISION 
                    TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2025

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2026

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 142, 
which would override a tax reform made by D.C.'s elected City Council. 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) runs out of funding in less 
than ten days. Republicans should be using this valuable time to 
negotiate a bipartisan deal to see an end to DHS's violent tactics in 
the Twin Cities and Minnesota at large. But what pressing issue does 
the Republican Majority want to tackle instead? They want to waste more 
of the American people's time by debating and overturning local laws of 
the District of Columbia.
  Mr. Speaker, none of us ran for or were elected to serve as D.C. City 
Council members. I have been a city council member. It is a very 
different job, with a direct line of responsibility to the residents 
who elect you to deal with everything from potholes to public safety. 
That local representation and local responsiveness is a key part of our 
democracy, and Republicans are proposing to strip that local self-
governance away from the residents of the District of Columbia.
  All Members of Congress are sent here by our constituents to 
represent their interests, and to vote on matters of federal 
importance. We are not sent here to rule on specific local ordinances 
or decisions made by the cities and counties in any of our districts. 
Yet Republicans have brought H.J. Res. 142 to the floor to do exactly 
that. Republicans want to tell the District of Columbia's 700,000 
residents that the laws and policies they have voted for, and that were 
crafted by their local elected officials, are null and void.
  D.C. residents deserve the same right to govern themselves as we 
enjoy in the 4th District. That is why I urge my colleagues to reject 
H.J. Res. 142, which would overturn local tax credits designed to 
reduce child poverty and support families facing economic hardship. 
Congress should never prevent a municipality from using its own locally 
raised funds to strengthen their community. Today, I will vote to 
defend the rights of the residents of D.C.--as I would my own 
constituents--to ensure Republicans do not override these important 
budgetary decisions enacted by the D.C. City Council. I will not vote 
for these attempts to decide those issues for a single district at the 
local level, whether in the District of Columbia or in the districts of 
any Member of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I respect the will of D.C. residents to shape their 
local government through their local elections, and that is why I will 
not support H.J. Res. 142. I urge my colleagues in the majority to 
focus on issues of national importance, like negotiating a bipartisan 
deal to rein in the Department of Homeland Security, and leave the 
governing of D.C. to their city council.

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