Congressional Republicans are working to pass crucial elements of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act before year-end. This election integrity bill, supported by Donald Trump and opposed by Democrats, has stalled, partly due to Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s hesitancy to bring it to a vote. The bill’s success hinges on obtaining at least several Democratic votes to surpass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster.
Push for Budget Reconciliation
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is urging Republicans to use the budget reconciliation process for passing the bill’s main mandates. This process allows the majority party to bypass the Senate filibuster, requiring only a simple majority. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., leads efforts to implement this strategy.
“I’d rather pass the SAVE America Act. But recognizing that the Senate might not get it done with the 60-vote threshold, let’s leverage parliamentary procedure, bring that threshold down to 50, and get some commonsense reforms done,” said Steil.
Steil is optimistic about passing a reconciliation bill before the November midterm elections but acknowledges time constraints. The reconciliation process is lengthy, typically taking about six months. Both the House and Senate must approve budget “frameworks” that instruct committees to specify spending or funding cuts.
Key Provisions in Focus
The House Administration Committee, led by Steil, aims to include two vital provisions from the original SAVE America Act: a proof of citizenship mandate for voter registration and a nationwide photo ID rule for voting.
“The House can go as fast as the Senate. The frustration we have is the Senate’s slower pace,” Steil expressed. “I believe there are 50 Senate votes for some of these commonsense provisions.”
The reconciliation process faces challenges, particularly from the Senate parliamentarian, who assesses the compliance of the bill draft with procedural rules. Steil argues that certain provisions might satisfy these rules by affecting state funds under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
“We could enhance those funds for states to conduct post-election audits, an essential part of election integrity. This includes photo ID requirements,” Steil noted.
Support from the Trump Administration
The Trump administration supports using reconciliation for the SAVE America Act. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought has advocated this approach in discussions with Republicans, arguing it is the most effective strategy for passing the GOP’s election reforms.
The House has passed its version of the reconciliation bill, focusing on military funding and enhancing election security. However, the Senate’s version, proposed by Ron Johnson, R-Wis., includes a more substantial budget allocation, causing a legislative gap between the two chambers.
Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledges the complexity of the process given the timing of the elections. “We passed the SAVE America Act four times in the House. This is the last effort to get it through the Senate, so prompt action is critical,” Johnson emphasized.
Steil remains hopeful that a resolution will be achieved, aligning with the overarching goals of ensuring military resources and election protection.
Reporter Elizabeth Elkind covers the House of Representatives for Fox News Digital. Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind or email tips to [email protected].