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House Republicans Block Defense Bill Vote Over Voting Rules
Fourteen House Republicans joined Democrats to defeat a procedural motion that would have advanced the annual defense policy bill. The standoff centers on attaching voter identification requirements to the measure.
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House Republicans on Tuesday blocked a procedural vote that would have advanced the annual defense policy bill. The vote failed after fourteen Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. The measure would have merged voting regulations provisions with the National Defense Authorization Act before sending it to the Senate.
The procedural standoff centers on the SAVE America Act, which contains voter identification requirements. House conservatives have sought to attach those provisions to must-pass legislation to compel Senate consideration. Democrats have not brought the voting measures to a vote in the Senate.
Anna Paulina Luna of Florida proposed an amendment to insert the voting provisions directly into the defense bill text. She stated the original procedural approach amounted to a head fake that would allow the Senate to strip the elections measures. Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the House would work on the issue over the next day and a half.
He said it made no sense to halt progress because Senate Democrats were refusing to act. The House is scheduled to return July 13.
The standoff began after President Trump canceled a signing ceremony for a housing affordability bill to press Congress on voting requirements. Trump met with Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House last Thursday and later urged holdouts to end their blockade.
GOP Rep. Tom Burchett said the House should continue pressing until every avenue is exhausted. About two hours after the failed vote, GOP leaders canceled votes on Wednesday and Thursday, sending lawmakers off on their Fourth of July recess early.
