The Republican-controlled House passed two major measures Wednesday, advancing both a key foreign surveillance program and a budget framework tied to immigration enforcement funding. The votes came after hours of internal GOP disputes that briefly stalled action on the House floor.
Lawmakers voted 235-191 to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a surveillance authority set to expire this week. The program allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of foreign targets located outside the country, NBC News reported.
In a separate vote, the House approved a Senate-passed budget resolution by a narrow 215-211 margin. The measure is expected to begin the process of securing long-term funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol.
The votes followed a chaotic day in the chamber marked by delays and internal divisions. Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, described the proceedings in blunt terms.
“S—show,” McGovern said when asked to summarize the day.
The budget resolution could help unlock funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been partially shut down for 74 days. The standoff has centered on disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement policies.
Earlier in the day, a group of conservative Republicans blocked a procedural vote, preventing several major bills from reaching the floor. The move highlighted ongoing tensions within the GOP’s narrow majority.
Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team spent hours negotiating with holdouts. Among those resisting were Reps. Andy Biggs, Tim Burchett, and Harriet Hageman.
After extended negotiations on the House floor, the rule governing debate was approved 216-210. The vote allowed consideration of the FISA extension, the budget resolution, and a sweeping farm bill.
“These are some of the most complicated public policy matters that Congress deals with, and they’re all sandwiched together because of deadlines that are upon us,” Johnson said.
The farm bill, which sets agricultural policy for the next five years, could receive a final vote as early as Thursday. Republican leaders are working to resolve disagreements over provisions such as year-round sales of E15 fuel.
Rep. Glenn Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, expressed confidence the bill would pass. However, Rep. Lauren Boebert criticized the legislation and said she would support it only while seeking changes in negotiations with the Senate.
The surveillance program renewal remains uncertain in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the House version is unlikely to advance and that he is pursuing a short-term extension.
Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee warned against allowing the program to lapse. Rep. Jim Himes defended the authority during floor debate.
“If we saw the slightest hint that these authorities were being abused, I wouldn’t be standing here today to support this bill,” Himes said. “Section 702 is not a dragnet. It is not an authority that can be used to surveil Americans.”
The budget resolution lays the groundwork for significant immigration enforcement funding. It directs congressional committees to draft legislation authorizing approximately $70 billion for ICE and the Border Patrol over the next three years.
Republicans plan to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the funding measure. That approach would allow the legislation to clear the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing the need for Democratic support.
Democrats have pushed for policy changes in exchange for funding, including requiring body cameras for agents and limiting enforcement actions in sensitive locations. Those provisions are not included in the current framework.
Additional funding for other Department of Homeland Security agencies could be considered separately. A Senate-passed bill includes funding for agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration.
House leaders are weighing whether to bring that measure to the floor before lawmakers leave Washington for a scheduled recess. No final decision has been announced.