The House of Representatives faced a standstill on June 30, 2026, as a group of conservative lawmakers, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), blocked a procedural vote related to the SAVE America Act. This blockade has halted legislative business, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to navigate challenges in advancing key legislative priorities ahead of the July 4 recess. A vote on various legislative items, including a defense bill linked to the SAVE America Act, failed with a count of 198-224, as 14 Republicans voted against it.
The group of dissenting Republicans included Max Miller (R-Ohio), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Randy Fine (R-Fla.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). Johnson expressed concern over the tactics employed by the holdouts, labeling them as detrimental to the Republican agenda. He emphasized the need for progress in legislative matters.
In an effort to address the concerns of conservative members, Johnson proposed merging the SAVE America Act with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to enhance its chances of passing in the Senate. The House had previously approved the SAVE America Act, but Johnson argued that pairing it with a bipartisan bill might facilitate its passage.
Luna and other conservatives demanded that the leadership push for the election measure to be prioritized, asserting that their actions were part of the legislative process. The Senate is also deliberating its own version of the NDAA, which does not include the election measure. Johnson has promised a vote on the border security package before the July 4 recess, although that timeline may not be met as no bill text has been released yet. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) noted the lack of consensus among members, which is essential for moving forward.