House Republican leadership has integrated the SAVE America Act into the House's legislative agenda by attaching parts of the election integrity bill to three significant pieces of legislation this week. This action aims to compel the Senate to act on the bill, which has faced repeated rejections in the Senate.
This week, the House sent two pieces of legislation that included the SAVE America Act to the Senate, including the National Defense Authorization Act and a $95 billion spending bill, both of which are unlikely to pass. The House had also previously passed the SAVE America Act as a standalone bill twice this year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated in a press conference, "These are very popular and important and necessary objectives. Number one: secure American elections by passing the SAVE America Act law, as much of that as possible, that’s the objective. Number two: protect and strengthen our homeland."
Johnson's strategy involves attaching the SAVE America Act to the $95 billion budget reconciliation bill, which would allow it to bypass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. However, obtaining a simple majority in the Senate has proven challenging, as several Republican senators previously opposed a voter ID and election integrity measure.
The current version of the SAVE America Act may not comply with the Senate's Byrd Rule, which regulates what policies can be included in reconciliation bills, meaning Republicans would need to overrule the parliamentarian's decision, which has not been done previously.
Additionally, the House has included provisions requiring voters to present valid identification when voting in the Stop Insider Trading Act, a bill aimed at regulating stock trades by lawmakers. This inclusion has complicated the passage of the stock trade regulation among Democrats.
House Republicans have been urging the Senate to consider the SAVE America Act, with some members publicly calling out Senate Minority Whip John Thune regarding the bill's progress. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) expressed on social media that Thune would need to make a decision regarding the bill's fate in the Senate.
The inclusion of the SAVE America Act in major legislation has stalled those bills upon passing the House, creating challenges for both chambers on critical legislative matters and causing frustration for former President Trump with Thune.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that Trump’s “patience is running out” with Thune, emphasizing the need for the Senate to act on the SAVE America Act before the August recess. Leavitt stated, “He knows that’s what the American people want to see passed.”
Thune responded by suggesting that instead of blaming Republicans, the focus should be on those obstructing the legislation, namely the Democrats, and urged for outreach to any Republicans who might support the bill.