Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson waits June 24 for President Donald Trump to speak at a rally to kick off the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Johnson sent House lawmakers home for a long holiday recess Tuesday after some Republican members voted against a procedural rule, blocking House business. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
June 30 (UPI) -- Speaker of the House Mike Johnson canceled votes on major bills and sent lawmakers home early Tuesday for a long recess after a group of Republicans refused to move forward on business over the SAVE America Act and other matters.
On Tuesday, the House voted 224-198, with 14 Republicans voting with Democrats, against a measure setting up further votes this week, Politico reported. Some House Republicans were also absent.
The vote froze matters including the annual Pentagon policy bill and annual appropriations bills before a recess planned for the holiday. By later Tuesday, Johnson conceded that he could not regain control and sent House members home. The House is not expected to return until mid-July.
Johnson and others have said that neither the House nor the Senate has the votes to pass the SAVE America Act in its current form. The controversial bill would require voters to prove their citizenship before they register to vote, and critics say the controversial act could disenfranchise millions of Americans.
