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The House rejected a procedural motion to send a bill targeting non-citizens convicted of violent crimes back to committee. This failed vote cleared the way for the bill to be voted on for final passage.
This vote was a procedural step regarding H.R. 30, the 'Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act.' The underlying bill expands the list of crimes that make a non-citizen inadmissible to the United States or subject to deportation, specifically focusing on sex offenses, domestic violence, and child abuse. The 'motion to recommit' is a procedural tool often used by the minority party as a last-ditch effort to stop a bill. If it had passed, the bill would have been sent back to a committee, which usually ends the bill's chances of passing. In the current era of Congress, this motion is a simple 'up or down' vote on whether to proceed to a final vote or kill the bill immediately. The motion failed with a vote of 206 to 213. Notably, both political parties were split on this decision rather than voting as unified blocks. Because the motion failed, the House was able to move directly to the final vote on the bill itself, which ultimately passed.
Following the failure of this motion, the House proceeded to a final vote on the passage of H.R. 30.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. This vote was the final procedural hurdle before passing legislation that significantly toughens immigration penalties for violent offenders.
Who’s affected. Non-citizens: Those with criminal records for domestic or sexual violence would face mandatory deportation or barred entry. · U.S. Law Enforcement: Immigration authorities would receive clearer federal authority to remove individuals convicted of specific violent crimes.
Democrats. The Democratic caucus was divided, with 99 voting to recommit and 110 voting against.
Republicans. The Republican caucus was also split, with 105 voting for the motion and 107 voting against.
The House rejected a procedural motion to send a bill targeting non-citizens convicted of violent crimes back to committee.
This failed vote cleared the way for the bill to be voted on for final passage.
A 'motion to recommit' is a procedural move that, if successful, sends a bill back to a committee, effectively stopping its progress. In the current era of House rules, it no longer includes specific instructions on how to change the bill; it is simply a vote to stop the bill from moving forward to a final vote.
Following the failure of this motion, the House proceeded to a final vote on the passage of H.R. 30.
This vote was the final procedural hurdle before passing legislation that significantly toughens immigration penalties for violent offenders.
Both Democrats and Republicans were significantly split on this procedural vote, which is unusual for a motion that is typically a strict party-line vote.
The Democratic caucus was divided, with 99 voting to recommit and 110 voting against.
The Republican caucus was also split, with 105 voting for the motion and 107 voting against.
The lone independent member voted against the motion to recommit.