House GOP leaders are facing challenges as they attempt to address a conservative opposition that has stalled House proceedings for several weeks. This opposition, involving several dozen Republicans, has led House Speaker Mike Johnson to cancel votes on important legislation, affecting the House's ability to conduct business ahead of the upcoming November midterm elections. Conservatives are demanding the Senate pass the stalled SAVE America Act and are seeking a vote on border security legislation before they agree to procedural votes.
The situation is complicated by divisions within the GOP, leaving questions about Johnson's ability to push through significant legislation this week. Vice President JD Vance had planned to attend a Republican conference meeting but postponed his visit. Trump has previously urged conservative members to allow House proceedings to continue, but the group has remained firm in their stance.
Johnson is working to advance a government spending bill and a proposal to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, which has garnered support from some Republicans. However, some members have criticized the priorities of the legislative agenda, emphasizing the need for election integrity.
The annual defense policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), is not expected to be considered this week due to previous opposition. Johnson had suggested combining the NDAA with the SAVE America Act, but some holdouts have expressed concerns over the Senate's commitment to including election security measures in the final legislation.
Luna is advocating for the inclusion of the SAVE America Act in a compromise NDAA bill, while Senate Republicans have indicated that there may not be enough votes to pass the election bill. Some conservatives are pushing for the election measure to be attached to any legislation that passes the House. Johnson has indicated a willingness to merge the SAVE America Act with the State Department funding bill as part of the legislative process. Additionally, House conservatives are calling for a vote on border security legislation that aligns with previous proposals.