Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

H.Res. 1042 was a House rule resolution reported by Rep. Langworthy (R-NY) on February 9, 2026, designed to set the terms for floor consideration of H.R. 2189 (law enforcement de-escalation), H.R. 261 (undersea cable permitting exemption), and H.R. 3617 (critical energy resources). On February 10, the House voted 214-217 against agreeing to the resolution, effectively killing this procedural path. The three underlying bills had previously passed the House or progressed to the Senate, but the failure of this rule prevents their immediate advancement under this vehicle. No funding was authorized or appropriated by this resolution—it was purely procedural. The broader legislative landscape for critical minerals and undersea cable regulation remains unchanged. Investors should note that while the bills themselves address tangible sectors (defense tech, telecom infrastructure, energy supply chains), the rule's failure is a legislative setback that delays any potential policy shifts. No specific companies are directly impacted, as no new mandates, spending, or regulatory changes took effect.