House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., walks to a vote in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
A $70 billion bill focused on immigration enforcement successfully navigated a crucial step in the House Rules Committee Monday evening, paving the way for consideration on the House floor as early as Tuesday.
The committee reached a 7-4 decision to move the legislation forward after deliberating for over six hours.
“The proposal to present this is approved,” stated Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx.
Throughout the session, Democrats initiated votes on various unsuccessful amendments concerning the “anti-weaponization fund.” One such amendment aimed to prevent individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot from receiving federal benefits. Other rejected amendments addressed tax credits under the Affordable Care Act and proposed additional training mandates for immigration enforcement personnel.
This development follows the Senate Republicans’ approval of the package, referred to as the “Secure America Act,” last Friday.
Assuming full attendance and participation from all House members, a scenario considered improbable, House Speaker Mike Johnson could tolerate up to three Republican dissenting votes.
“We will succeed in passing it,” Johnson informed reporters on Monday.
“As you are aware, my room for error is quite limited, so we will manage to get it passed. However, it is imperative that we allocate funds for border security and immigration enforcement, a fact well-understood by everyone present. Therefore, personal preferences must be set aside to accomplish this task,” he elaborated.
When questioned about potential attendance issues for Tuesday’s votes due to primary elections, Johnson responded affirmatively, stating, “yes.”
“The primary season presents a genuine obstacle for holding votes, yet Congress must fulfill its responsibilities. I have communicated to all our members that they must manage both obligations. Their presence is required,” he asserted.
In response to inquiries about whether the reconciliation votes might be postponed until Wednesday, Johnson expressed, “I do not believe that will happen.”
Lawmakers have already allocated funds for the Department of Homeland Security, with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CPBP). These specific agencies were omitted from the budget discussions that concluded the extensive government shutdown earlier this year.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com