Rules Committee approves closed rule to consider DHS funding bill after failed carve‑out amendment
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Summary
The House Rules Committee voted to report a closed rule for H.R.80‑29 (Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act) after rejecting a Democratic amendment to replace the bill with a carve‑out that would immediately pay TSA and other DHS workers; the committee approved the rule by roll call, 8–3.
The House Rules Committee on Thursday advanced a closed rule to bring H.R. 80‑29, the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, to the floor, rejecting Democratic attempts to substitute a bill that would immediately fund TSA and other non‑controversial DHS components.
The committee voted to report the rule after a series of roll calls; the final motion to report the rule passed, 8–3. Representative Houchin moved the rule, which packaged H.R. 80‑29 alongside H.Res.1128 and two other measures for expedited floor consideration under closed rules.
Why this matters: H.R.80‑29 would fund DHS broadly; supporters said the bill is intended to restore pay and resources to TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard and other components that committee members said have been disrupted by a funding lapse. Opponents and Democratic members pushed instead for a narrower bill that would immediately pay TSA and other frontline workers while separate negotiations continue over ICE and CBP reforms.
During debate, Representative Cole, an appropriations witness, described “mission‑critical” DHS positions continuing to work without guaranteed pay and urged colleagues to pass the House package. Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro argued Democrats have repeatedly offered carve‑outs to fund TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard while reforms for ICE and CBP proceed. She said her party filed a discharge petition to force such a vote.
Representative McGovern offered an amendment to replace the rule’s text with H.R.74‑81 (a Democratic carve‑out to fund most DHS components except ICE/CBP). That amendment failed on a roll call, 3 yeas to 8 nays. McGovern said his amendment would have immediately paid TSOs and other federal workers; majority supporters argued the House package is the appropriate bipartisan vehicle.
The committee also considered but did not adopt motions to add a separate Pay TSA bill to the rule or to change other procedural provisions. After the final roll call, the committee named managers for floor consideration and adjourned.
The committee’s action moves the House toward floor debate under a closed rule; whether the measure will clear the Senate or be signed into law remains uncertain, and members on both sides warned that the legislative path to getting pay to DHS workers may require further negotiations or alternative bills.
