Republicans Aim to Advance SAVE America Act This Year
Republican lawmakers in Congress are working to push forward essential elements of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act before the year wraps up.
This election integrity legislation, which has the backing of former President Donald Trump but faces staunch opposition from Democrats, has encountered a roadblock in Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota has been hesitant to bring it to a vote, knowing it is likely to fail.
To bypass a filibuster, several Democratic votes would be necessary to meet the Senate’s 60-vote requirement. However, many left-leaning members in both the House and Senate have criticized the bill, deeming it a move to instill doubt about U.S. elections, or worse, a tactic for voter suppression.
House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana is urging fellow Republicans to pass the principal components of the bill through the budget reconciliation process. This method allows the majority party to implement significant fiscal policy with limited input from the minority, effectively sidelining the filibuster. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Republican from Wisconsin and chairman of the Committee on House Administration, is responsible for overseeing the bill’s advancement.
Steil expressed a desire to expedite the processing of the SAVE America Act, given the looming November midterm elections. He acknowledged, though, that time is running out.
The reconciliation process can be quite complex and lengthy. Last year, it took Republicans about six months to push through Trump’s major One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Both the House and Senate need to agree on budget frameworks that guide committees on how to allocate or reduce funds according to specified amounts.
As part of the SAVE America Act, Steil’s committee aims to introduce two key elements: a requirement for proof of citizenship for voter registration and a nationwide photo ID mandate for casting ballots.
Steil remarked that he believes there could be enough Senate votes for some of these straightforward provisions, although he also expressed frustration at the Senate’s slower pace.
The process may become more complicated as the Senate parliamentarian—appointed to interpret the Senate’s rules—will review the reconciliation draft to eliminate provisions that don’t adhere to the rules. Generally, anything not directly impacting the federal budget is likely to be cut.
Interestingly, Steil noted that segments of the SAVE America Act might still be viable if they can relate to funds allocated to states through the Help America Vote Act, which dates back to 2002.
There’s clear support from Trump’s administration behind this initiative. Earlier in the year, OMB Director Russell Vought encouraged Republicans during a closed meeting, emphasizing that the White House supports the reconciliation approach for the SAVE America Act as a suitable path for advancing election reforms.
The House has already approved its version of a reconciliation bill aimed at bolstering military funding and enhancing election security.
However, in the Senate, Budget Committee Chairman Ron Johnson recently presented a framework, but it’s unclear when it might be considered for a vote.
Speaker Johnson recognized the significant difference in spending proposals between the House and Senate’s approaches, which amount to about $150 billion. He noted that while the goal is to keep the bill streamlined for a quicker passage, adding complexity can slow the process, especially in the Senate’s procedural context.
Steil remained hopeful about reaching a consensus on the bill’s provisions, stating that there is a general alignment on key issues, though the overall numbers differ. Both sides recognize the critical need not just for military resources to defend the nation but also for safeguarding the integrity of elections.
