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The House rejected a procedural effort to delay H.R. 3838, a major bill that sets the budget and policy for the U.S. military for the 2026 fiscal year.
This vote was on a Motion to Recommit H.R. 3838, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. This massive bill is the primary way Congress authorizes funding for the U.S. military, including troop pay, the purchase of new ships and aircraft, and research into advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and biotechnology. In the House of Representatives, a 'motion to recommit' is a procedural tool used by the minority party just before a final vote. Historically, it was used to propose last-minute changes, but under current rules adopted in 2021, it is a straightforward move to send the bill back to a committee. This effectively acts as a final protest or a way to kill the bill by delaying it indefinitely. The motion failed along party lines, which is common for this type of procedural vote. Because the motion was rejected, the House was able to move immediately to a final vote on whether to pass the bill itself. The defeat of this motion ensured the defense bill continued its progress through the legislative process without delay.
Following the failure of this motion, the House proceeded to a final vote on whether to pass H.R. 3838.
OPEN BILL →Democrats. The Democratic caucus voted nearly unanimously in favor of the motion as a procedural challenge to the Republican-sponsored defense bill.
Republicans. The Republican caucus voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their priority defense legislation stayed on track for passage.
On Motion to Recommit
Sep 10, 2025
The House rejected a procedural effort to delay H.R.
3838, a major bill that sets the budget and policy for the U.S. military for the 2026 fiscal year.
A motion to recommit is a procedural move that, if successful, would send the bill back to the committee that originally wrote it. Under current House rules, this motion no longer includes specific instructions for changes, making it a procedural hurdle used by the minority party to express opposition before a final vote.
Following the failure of this motion, the House proceeded to a final vote on whether to pass H.R. 3838.
The vote followed strict party lines, with Democrats voting to delay the bill and Republicans voting to move forward with it.
The Democratic caucus voted nearly unanimously in favor of the motion as a procedural challenge to the Republican-sponsored defense bill.
The Republican caucus voted unanimously against the motion to ensure their priority defense legislation stayed on track for passage.
The one independent member joined the Republicans in voting against the motion.