House conservatives concluded a lengthy blockade of the House floor, delivering a significant win to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. The stalemate had halted legislative business for nearly a month.
The House passed a procedural vote 215-211, paving the way for votes on several bills. These include an appropriations measure for the State Department, legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, and a proposal to enhance veterans’ benefits.
Additionally, Johnson agreed to pair the State Department funding bill with the SAVE America Act. This move prompted several conservative holdouts to change their votes, responding to demands to heighten pressure on the Senate to pass the stalled measure. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., was the sole Republican opposing the rule. All Democrats voted “no” during a party-line procedural vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on June 10, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Conservatives had obstructed major House legislation since late June, aiming to compel GOP leaders to hold floor votes on the Trump-backed SAVE America Act and a comprehensive border security bill. Given the narrow majority of House Republicans, Johnson could afford only a few GOP defections.
The speaker has faced increasing pressure to advance legislation before the November midterm elections. GOP leaders are drafting a framework for a third significant bill, alongside government funding bills due by the Sept. 30 deadline and a potential package addressing the Iran war.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who was part of the GOP rebels shutting down the chamber, agreed to resume legislative activities after Johnson proposed linking the election measure with the State Department appropriations bill.
Johnson initially sought to attach the SAVE America Act to the House’s version of an annual defense policy bill before the July 4 recess. However, Luna maintained the blockade.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., attends a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing in the Rayburn building on June 30, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Senator John Thune, despite supporting the SAVE America Act, stated that votes are insufficient in the Senate due to unified Democratic opposition.
This situation leaves House Republicans with limited influence to encourage Senate action on the measure. Some holdouts threatened to oppose the rule unless House GOP leaders scheduled a vote on a border security package.
Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus advocate voting on the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act. This act would establish several Trump executive orders targeting illegal immigration, including ending catch-and-release policies.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, emphasized the importance of border security, addressing birthright citizenship. “These are all issues people that I represent care about intently and that we’ve talked about doing, and we need to deliver,” Roy stated.
In a potential warning sign for GOP leadership, some holdouts criticized Johnson’s legislative priorities. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, highlighted the importance of election integrity over daylight saving time.
Some GOP rebels’ tactics frustrated other Republicans, who argued the strategy might hinder the legislative agenda. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., expressed confusion over the actions of a small group upset with the Senate. “But I don’t know how … if you’re upset at the Senate, why do you take it out on the conservative Republican agenda in the House?” he questioned.
Despite this, some conservatives insisted on prioritizing the SAVE America Act. President Donald Trump named it his top legislative goal, even rejecting a bipartisan housing bill to protest the SAVE America Act.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., remarked, “We shouldn’t vote on anything else unless it has the SAVE [America] Act, period.” He advised, “Ideally, the Senate ought to take it up every day and make them vote on it and do a talking filibuster and keep them up all night.”