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The House rejected a procedural attempt by Democrats to send the Kayla Hamilton Act back to committee, which would have effectively killed the bill.
This vote was on a Motion to Recommit regarding H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act. The bill proposes significant changes to how the federal government handles unaccompanied children at the U.S. border, including mandatory criminal and gang screenings for children 12 and older and strict citizenship requirements for their adult sponsors. In the U.S. House of Representatives, a Motion to Recommit is a procedural tool used by the minority party as a final attempt to stop a bill before it passes. Under current rules, this motion simply sends the bill back to the committee that originally wrote it without any instructions for changes. If the motion passes, the bill is removed from the immediate schedule and usually does not return for a vote. The motion failed on a straight party-line vote, with Republicans voting to keep the bill on the floor and Democrats voting to send it back to committee. Because the motion failed, the House was able to proceed immediately to a final vote on whether to pass the bill into law.
Immediately following this failed procedural vote, the House held a final vote on the passage of H.R. 4371.
OPEN BILL →Democrats. Democrats voted unanimously in favor of the motion as a way to express opposition to the bill and attempt to stop its passage.
Republicans. Republicans voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their legislation could proceed to a final vote.
The House rejected a procedural attempt by Democrats to send the Kayla Hamilton Act back to committee, which would have effectively killed the bill.
A motion to recommit is a procedural move typically offered by the opposition party to kill a bill by sending it back to committee. Under current House rules, this is a 'straight' motion that contains no instructions, meaning a 'yes' vote is effectively a vote to stop the bill's progress entirely.
Immediately following this failed procedural vote, the House held a final vote on the passage of H.R. 4371.
The vote was entirely split along party lines, reflecting a clear divide on the underlying immigration and law enforcement policy.
Democrats voted unanimously in favor of the motion as a way to express opposition to the bill and attempt to stop its passage.
Republicans voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their legislation could proceed to a final vote.
The one Independent member present joined Republicans in voting against the motion.