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 20, 2026 · 1:30 PM ET
Party-line vote, except 1 Democrat who crossed. 13 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 providing fiscal year 2026 appropriations for various Department of Homeland Security agencies and offices, except ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol. The motion fell 13 votes short of the 60 needed, so the Senate did not end debate on taking up the bill.
End debate on whether to take up H.R. 7147, so the Senate can move to it.
Keep debating whether to take it up. 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 crossing1 Democrat 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 47–37 on March 20, 13 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#54Cloture on the motion to proceedFAILED51–46
- MAR 20#59THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED47–3713 votes short of the 60 needed.
- 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 bill5 stories from 5 outlets
- The Philadelphia InquirerCENTERBrian Fitzpatrick says he wants to make changes at ICE and end the DHS shutdown
- The Daily CallerRIGHTJohn Fetterman Bluntly Tells Democrats What Their DHS Shutdown Is Doing To Americans
- HotAirRIGHTHow Much Longer Do Dems Play Shutdown Chicken With American Tempers Rising
- RacketTHE SWAMP LOG — A Boiling Point, Masters of Surprise, Bound for Atlantis
- DailyfreemanHow they voted: Ryan, Riley on war with Iran, funding Homeland Security
Lean describes the outlets, not the vote.
