Tom Cole (R-OK)
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House 221–209
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026," provides funding for various Department of Homeland Security functions for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. It allocates money across several divisions, including departmental management, customs and border protection, immigration enforcement, transportation security, and the Coast Guard. Additionally, it provides significant funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief and assistance programs. The Act also includes various administrative requirements, oversight provisions, and reporting mandates to ensure accountability. Furthermore, this legislation involves rescinding various funds from several offices and agencies within the Department of Homeland Security. These rescissions target operations and support funds for entities such as the TSA, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +5
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?
The bill includes protections for the health, safety, and rights of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals in custody.
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill contains specific protections for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals in custody.
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill provides over $26 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, though it also establishes new reporting penalties.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill funds increased enforcement and removal operations.
What Congress actually voted on
2 recorded votes have been taken on this bill. One of them decided something; the rest moved it along.
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the bill This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President. Passed 221 yes · 209 no
03/05/2026 · Roll call 87 · recorded as “On Passage”
- The House: a last attempt to send the bill back to committee The minority party's final chance to change or stall a bill just before the vote on passage. It almost always fails; when it succeeds, the bill does not get its final vote that day. Motion to recommit rejected 212 yes · 217 no
03/05/2026 · Roll call 86 · recorded as “On Motion to Recommit”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Oversight of Detention Facilities: The bill allocates $20,000,000 for additional inspections and oversight of detention facilities through the Office of Inspector General (Sec. 5).
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Protection for Pregnant Individuals: The bill mandates that the Secretary ensure policies are in effect to safeguard the health, safety, and rights of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals and infants in custody (Sec. 211).
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Increased Safety through Body-Worn Cameras: An additional $20,000,000 is provided for the procurement, deployment, and operations of body-worn cameras for agents and officers performing enforcement activities (Sec. 109).
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Disaster Relief and Recovery: The Act provides $26,367,000,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund to carry out relief for major disasters (Sec. 2, Title III).
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Support for High-Risk Urban Areas: The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides $150,000,000 specifically for eligible recipients located in high-risk urban areas (Sec. 2, Title III).
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Protection of Rights for Pregnant Women in Custody: The bill prohibits the use of certain restraints on pregnant women in custody, unless determined necessary by a medical professional for safety (Sec. 527).
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Payment of Personnel: The bill ensures that payments for personnel pay, allowances, and benefits can be made according to specific legal standards (Sec. 1002).
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Protection of Life and Property: The act ratifies obligations incurred to maintain essential levels of activity required to protect life and property (Sec. 1003).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Personal Prescription Drug Imports: The bill includes provisions that could impact the ability of individuals to import certain prescription drugs from Canada for personal use (Sec. 205).
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Prohibitions on New Border Crossing Fees: While the bill prohibits the establishment of new border crossing fees, it also prohibits conducting any studies related to the imposition of such fees (Sec. 207).
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Limitations on Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities: The bill prohibits the use of funds to procure or equip long-range unmanned aircraft with kinetic capabilities (Sec. 230).
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Restrictions on Training and Grant Programs: Certain provisions allow for the pausing of training or grant-funded programs, provided specific notification requirements are met (Sec. 314).
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Reduction in Agency Funding: The bill rescinds large amounts of money from various operations and support functions across the Department of Homeland Security, including $52,349,050 from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and $19,650,000 from the Transportation Security Administration (Sec. 552).
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Reduction in Emergency and Security Funding: Funds are being taken back from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ($18,525,975) and the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office ($6,937,020) (Sec. 552).
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Reduction in Oversight and Border Security Funding: The bill rescinds funds from the Office of the Inspector General ($88,190) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection ($1,139,096) (Sec. 552).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill includes protections for the health, safety, and rights of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals in custody. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill provides significant funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and various border security assets. Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill funds body-worn cameras and increased oversight of detention facilities. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The bill allocates $123.5 million for the emergency food and shelter program under the McKinney-Vento Act. Does this make child care cost less? — Allows funds to be used for employee emergency back-up care programs.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill contains specific protections for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing individuals in custody. Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides funds for the prevention of forced child labor. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides funds for road maintenance on Native American reservations. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides specific funding for nonprofit security in high-risk urban areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Funding for the emergency food and shelter program can assist low-income individuals. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill funds increased enforcement and removal operations.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill provides over $26 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, though it also establishes new reporting penalties. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill includes funding for environmental compliance and restoration through the Coast Guard. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill provides assistance for public transportation security.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill funds the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Does this put more money into stopping terrorism? — The bill provides funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to protect high-risk urban areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates several reports to Congress and increased oversight of procurement and staffing. Does this give the federal government more power? — Strengthens Congressional oversight of Department of Homeland Security operations.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill rescinds billions of dollars in unobligated funds from various agency accounts. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Increases oversight and requires cost-benefit analyses for specific border security requests.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer? — The bill funds investigations into intellectual property rights violations.
- 3/9/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
- 3/5/2026
- The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 7744.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 209 (Roll no. 87). (text: CR H2432-2444)
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 209 (Roll no. 87). (text: CR H2432-2444)
- On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 212 - 217 (Roll no. 86).
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2449-2451)
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 7744, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Ms. DeLauro moved to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR H2448)
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7744.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7744 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Bill is closed to amendments.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1095. (consideration: CR H2432-2448)
- 3/4/2026
- Rule H. Res. 1095 passed House.
- 3/3/2026
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1095 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7744 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Bill is closed to amendments.
- 3/2/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
8 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-4213: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-7147: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
- 119-HR-7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-8029: Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act
- 119-HR-8173: Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act
- 119-HR-8206: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HRES-1095: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7744) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.