Mike Johnson pushes FISA and ICE funding forward after 2 hour floor fight flips key votes

WASHINGTON, DC: House Republican leaders secured a key procedural victory on Wednesday, April 29, advancing legislation to renew federal surveillance powers and fund immigration enforcement after a prolonged floor vote that exposed internal divisions within the party.

The House voted 216-210 along party lines to adopt a rule governing debate on the measures, with Republican leadership holding the vote open for more than two hours while persuading several holdouts to reverse their positions.

The adopted rule allows the House to move forward on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and a Senate-approved budget blueprint aimed at funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

To secure enough support, GOP leaders agreed to remove the farm bill from the package, postponing its consideration. 

GOP leaders secure support after lengthy negotiations

House Republican leaders spent hours on the floor negotiating with members who had initially opposed the procedural rule.

Several lawmakers who voted “no” eventually switched to “yes” after direct conversations with party leadership and assurances on separate legislative priorities.

Speaker Mike Johnson was seen speaking directly with Rep Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla), who initially opposed the rule before shifting her vote.

Rep Lauren Boebert (R-Colo), who had criticized the handling of her proposed amendments to the farm bill and has long opposed what she called a “clean” FISA renewal, also ultimately backed the measure after negotiations.

Other conservative members, including Reps Chip Roy (R-Texas), Eli Crane (R-Ariz), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn), Keith Self (R-Texas), and Scott Perry (R-Pa), also reversed their opposition.

Republican leaders offered several concessions to win support, including a future amendment vote to strip pesticide-related provisions from the farm bill and commitments to address ethanol fuel policy.

Boebert later said she had received assurances regarding water-related provisions she wants included when the farm bill returns for consideration. The removal of the farm bill from the rule was seen as the decisive concession that helped break the impasse.

FISA deadline and ICE funding push dominate House agenda

At the center of the legislative push is the looming expiration of Section 702 of FISA, a surveillance authority that allows US intelligence agencies to collect communications of foreign nationals located abroad without a warrant. The provision expires on Thursday, creating urgency for congressional action.

A final House vote on the FISA reauthorization bill is expected later on Wednesday. However, the bill’s path in the Senate remains uncertain after House Republicans attached a provision banning the Federal Reserve from creating a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has reportedly said the FISA bill, with the anti-CBDC provision attached, is “dead on arrival” in the Senate, signaling potential challenges ahead.

The rule also provides House leadership with procedural flexibility, allowing Speaker Johnson to fast-track a short-term FISA extension later this week under suspension of the rules if the current bill stalls.

Separately, Republicans are advancing a Senate-passed budget blueprint designed to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the reconciliation process, allowing Senate Republicans to bypass the 60-vote threshold and avoid Democratic support.