Senate fails to start debate on the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 7147
FEB 12, 2026 · 1:16 PM ET
Party-line vote, except 1 Democrat and 1 Republican who crossed. 8 votes short of the 60 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →What the Senate was voting on
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on taking up H.R. 7147, a bill that would provide fiscal year 2026 funding for many Department of Homeland Security agencies and offices, including FEMA. The Senate rejected cloture, 8 votes short of the 60 needed.
End debate on whether to take up H.R. 7147, so the Senate can consider it.
Keep debating whether to take up H.R. 7147; this is not a vote on the bill itself.
Funds many Homeland Security agencies and FEMA programs for fiscal year 2026, authorizes shutdown back pay, and bars a new land-border crossing fee.
Signed into law on April 30, 2026 as Public Law 119-86, 100 days after it was introduced.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
Party line, with 1 Democrat and 1 Republican crossing1 Democrat and 1 Republican crossed. It wasn’t enough.
Every vote on H.R. 7147, in both chambersPassed the House. Stalled in the Senate.
CHAMBER CONTRASTThe House passed it 220–207 on Jan. 22, with 7 Democrats voting yes. The Senate failed to end debate on it 52–47 on Feb. 12, 8 short of the 60 needed, with 1 Democrat voting yes.
- JAN 22#39Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 1014)AGREED TO215–213
- JAN 22#41On the rule (H.Res. 1014)AGREED TO214–213
- JAN 22#42On passagePASSED220–2077 Democrats voted yes
- FEB 10Cloture motion filedFILED
- FEB 12Cloture motion filedFILED
- FEB 12#38THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED52–478 votes short of the 60 needed.
- FEB 24#39Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED50–45
- MAR 5#47Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED51–45
- MAR 10Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 12#54Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED51–46
- MAR 20#59Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED47–37
- MAR 24Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 25Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 25#71Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED54–46
- MAR 26#74Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED53–47
- MAR 27Passed by voice votePASSED
- MAR 27Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 27#107Previous question on the rule (H.Res. 1142)AGREED TO209–206
- MAR 27#108On the rule (H.Res. 1142)AGREED TO213–203
- APR 30Sent to the PresidentTO PRESIDENT
- APR 30Signed into lawSIGNED
