The House cleared a key procedural hurdle by a vote of 213-209 to advance the government funding package for full consideration on the House floor.
The chamber is to move on to debate the funding package shortly.
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
Nov 12, 2025, 6:03 PM EST
Graham said he will 'definitely' sue under Senate phone record provision
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday he would "definitely" sue under new language in the Senate version of the government funding bill that would give senators a legal pathway for senators to sue if their phone records are investigated without their notice.
Graham is one of the senators whose phone data was accessed by special counsel Jack Smith as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
"And if you think I am going to settle this thing for a million dollars? No. I want to make it so painful no one ever does this again," Graham said during a news conference.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Josh Hawley and other officials listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a Rose Garden Club lunch, at the White House in Washington, October 21, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Other Republican senators who had their records supoenaed were split.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn's office suggested in a statement to ABC News that she would pursue legal action.
Representatives for Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said he has no plans to sue, as did Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc.
"If I did sue, it would only be for the purpose of using the courts to expose the corrupt weaponization of federal law enforcement by the Biden and Obama administrations," Johnson said in a statement to ABC News.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Nov 12, 2025, 5:22 PM EST
Some House Republicans very concerned about Senate phone record provision in funding bill
Some Republican House members are expressing opposition to a provision that was inserted into the Senate version of the government funding bill at the 11th hour.
The provision creates a legal pathway for senators to sue if their phone records are investigated without their notification and seek up to $500,000 in taxpayer dollars for damages.
Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., told ABC News the provision was "poorly worded legislation that needs to be addressed and addressed very quickly."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks with congressional reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 7, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was personally responsible for adding the text to the bill, sources told ABC News.
Johnson said on X on Wednesday that the House will hold a vote next week on stripping the provision.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Arthur Jones and Lauren Peller
Nov 12, 2025, 4:50 PM EST
House begins debate on funding bill
The House began debate for the funding bill that would reopen the federal government. It is expected to be voted on later Wednesday night.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks alongside Democratic members of the House of Representatives about health care and the planned vote to end the government shutdown in Washington, DC, November 12, 2025.