Ruben Gallego

Senator Ruben Gallego, the Arizona Democrat, announced Thursday he will block all fast-tracked Republican bills passed by the House until President Donald Trump signs a bipartisan housing act.

Trump canceled a Wednesday ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which aims to reduce high prices, until Congress passes a voting bill that lacks the Senate’s support. He must still receive the housing bill from House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican closely aligned with the White House, and sign it within 10 days before it becomes law.

Gallego said during a Capitol Hill press conference he would push Johnson to give Trump the act by objecting to any of the House GOP’s legislation called up for unanimous consent in the Senate.

“The president is standing in the way and being encouraged by some House Republicans. So to encourage some movement over there, I am going to block all Republican bills that are gonna try to come to the Senate through UC until the ROAD to Housing Act passes,” the senator asserted.

Johnson’s next steps are unclear. The bill would give the GOP a much-needed legislative victory ahead of the competitive November midterm elections, but his alliance with Trump could further delay its enactment. There are also legal questions about whether Congress’s upcoming recess would allow the president to hold the act indefinitely.