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
MAR 12, 2026 · 1:55 PM ET
Party-line vote, except 1 Democrat and 1 Republican who crossed. 9 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. The bill would provide fiscal year 2026 funding for various Department of Homeland Security agencies and offices, excluding ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol. Supporters fell 9 votes short of the 60 needed, so cloture was rejected.
End debate on whether to take up H.R. 7147, so the Senate can move to it.
Keep debating whether to take it up; this is not a vote against 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 51–46 on March 12, 9 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#38Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED52–47
- FEB 24#39Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED50–45
- MAR 5#47Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED51–45
- MAR 10Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 12#54THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED51–469 votes short of the 60 needed.
- 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
Coverage of this vote and its bill3 stories from 2 outlets
- redstate.comRIGHTWe Now Know How Many Terrorist Attacks It Takes to Get Democrats to Blink on DHS Funding
- redstate.comRIGHTUnconscionable: Democrats Vote to Continue Schumer Shutdown Amidst Terror Attacks, Chaos at Airports
- RacketTHE SWAMP LOG — A Boiling Point, Masters of Surprise, Bound for Atlantis
Lean describes the outlets, not the vote.
