House conservatives have halted their prolonged blockade of the House floor, granting Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a significant win after the protest had paused legislative activities for almost a month. The House passed a procedural vote of 215-211, paving the way for votes on several bills, including funding for the State Department, legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, and measures to enhance veterans’ benefits.
Speaker Johnson paired the State Department funding with the SAVE America Act, prompting some conservative members to change their stance after previously demanding greater pressure on the Senate to pass the stalled measure. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., was the only Republican to vote against the rule, while Democrats unanimously opposed it during the procedural vote.
The conservative block has been withholding approval for major House legislation since late June, aiming to compel GOP leaders to hold votes on the Trump-backed SAVE America Act and a comprehensive border security bill. Due to the narrow Republican majority, Speaker Johnson had limited room for defections.
Faced with increasing pressure to restart legislative processes, GOP leaders are working urgently to finalize major bills and secure government funding before the September 30 deadline, alongside potential funding for the Iran conflict. The congress is also urgently drafting a third significant bill beyond the already planned measures.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., one of the Republicans pushing for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, agreed to cease the floor blockade after Johnson proposed linking the election measure with the State Department appropriations bill. Johnson had previously tried to incorporate the SAVE America Act into an annual defense policy bill prior to the July 4 recess, but the protest persisted.
Senator John Thune, who supports the SAVE America Act, noted the absence of sufficient votes in the Senate due to unified Democratic opposition, leaving House Republicans with limited influence to enforce Senate action. Some GOP members demanded a vote on a border security bill, including the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, which seeks to codify Trump-era executive orders on immigration policies.
While some criticize Johnson’s legislative priorities, such as making daylight saving time permanent, many House Republicans argue the blockade’s hardball tactics risk undermining their legislative agenda. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina emphasized the importance of focusing efforts on passing the SAVE America Act.
Opposition strategy has frustrated certain Republicans, who question the effectiveness of targeting the Senate while stalling conservative initiatives in the House. Despite these concerns, the demand for the SAVE America Act remains high on the agenda for some, bolstered by Trump’s emphasis on election integrity as a legislative priority.
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