The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, President Trump’s signature election integrity legislation, appeared to fizzle out and die following a protracted battle in the Senate earlier this year. But a renewed push from the White House to attach the bill to must-pass legislation has given it fresh life – if Republican leaders can rally their caucus behind it.
The SAVE America Act closes glaring loopholes in election law to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens can vote. The bill specifically requires documentary proof of citizenship – like a REAL ID, passport, or birth certificate – to register to vote; mandates that states verify citizenship status using available government databases and remove noncitizens from voter rolls; and establishes penalties for election officials who knowingly register ineligible voters, strengthening enforcement of federal voter eligibility laws.
Republicans passed the bill through the House, but it stalled in the Senate in March following a marathon floor session. The Senate filibuster rule requires that most legislation have at least 60 votes to pass, meaning that Republicans would need at least seven Democrats to cross the aisle and vote with them – a scenario that simply will not happen.
A group of GOP senators, led by Utah’s Mike Lee, had pushed for the Senate to adopt a “talking filibuster,” meaning that opposing senators would have to physically occupy and speak on the Senate floor to block passage of the bill. That strategy had the endorsement of the White House but not Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who claimed that there were not 51 votes to amend the filibuster rule.
Following the failed floor vote – a scene that many conservatives blasted as coordinated failure theater on the part of Senate Republican leaders – the SAVE America Act took a back seat to other pressing issues like Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and the Iran conflict. It appeared that the bill was effectively dead, at least for the remainder of this Congress.
But that dynamic now appears to be shifting as President Trump ramps up pressure on GOP leaders to attach the SAVE America Act to must-pass legislation making its way through Congress. “Voter I.D., and Proof of Citizenship, must be approved, NOW,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post this past weekend. “Crooked Mail-In Voting must be stopped!!! PUT IT ALL IN THE HOUSING AND FISA BILLS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
The two bills Trump is referring to will likely be the last pieces of major legislation passed before the midterm elections. With a Memorial Day recess and the annual August recess coming up, there are precious few legislative days left between now and November.
The “ROAD to Housing Act,” which limits institutional investor purchases of single-family homes, cuts some regulations, and creates new grants to encourage rehabilitation of dilapidated housing, currently has bipartisan support and is set to pass as soon as this week. If the SAVE America Act is attached, however, bipartisan support will collapse and the bill would take longer to clear the House. It would also run into the same filibuster problem in the Senate, and it is not at all clear that seven or more Democrats would vote for the SAVE America Act just to pass the housing bill.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization bill could be a more likely avenue for Republicans to put pressure on Democrats to allow passage of the SAVE America Act.
FISA, and specifically Section 702 of the law, has long divided both Democrats and Republicans. Section 702 allows for warrantless wiretapping of foreign individuals that often sweeps up Americans’ private data, but it must be continually reauthorized by Congress. With lawmakers deadlocked over reforms to the law in April, Congress passed a short-term extension that expires in mid-June.
With that deadline now rapidly approaching, it could present an opportunity for Republicans to jam Democrats and force their hand on the SAVE America Act. The intelligence community maintains that allowing FISA authorities to expire would present a serious threat to U.S. national security.
A third but more murky option could be yet another reconciliation bill before the August recess. The budget reconciliation process allows legislation related to federal spending to pass with a simple majority in the Senate.
Republicans are currently working on a reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement for the rest of Trump’s term, with the President setting a June 1 deadline. Given the expedited timeline, it would be virtually impossible to add the SAVE America Act at this late stage.
However, if that reconciliation bill can pass before June 1, it might be possible for Republicans to rally support for another bill by August. “I wouldn’t bet my house on it, and if it were your house I were betting on, I’d say, ‘Maybe,’” Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters when asked about it. “I hope that they’re right.”
But if Trump has proven anything over the course of his time in the White House, it’s that he has a knack for delivering the improbable and unexpected. Many observers, even some congressional Republicans, doubted that Republicans could pass the first reconciliation bill, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” by the July 4 deadline last year, but they did.
A final yet-unknown factor could be the influence of the public and specifically the conservative base on Republican lawmakers. Groups like AMAC Action placed enormous pressure on GOP members to pass the SAVE America Act earlier this year and nearly succeeded in securing the necessary support to institute a talking filibuster to pass the bill.
A renewed effort now with Election Day looming could finally thrust the bill over the finish line and deliver a long-overdue victory for election integrity.
To learn more about AMAC’s efforts to pass the SAVE America Act and sign the petition urging Congress to pass this critical legislation, click HERE.
Shane Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
80+% of America wants this. It should be a done deal by now. Vote every incumbent out of office.
As usual, the 2 major parties are fighting for their own agendas rather than putting the welfare of the nation first. The Democrats and RINOs will continue to stall this legislation until after the results of the midterms.
The road that our nation takes is still in the hands of the voters — either repent to God and follow his direction or go down the road of ruin.
There are many things Congress could do if it wanted to. It stopped serving the interests of constituents and the country long ago, now it only serves it’s own interest how did they all became millionaires while country is broke and their feeders have to count every dime.Why are they protected at the expense of the taxpayer, who is at the mercy of the criminal, since law is not allowed to do the job.That is the question they all should be forced to answer.That would explain why are they not doing the job they were sworn to do.
PASS the SAVE America Act and SAVE AMERICA.
The save America will never pass. If it passes Democrats can never win again. If they can’t cheat they cannot win.
My problem is that I have two Democrat senators who don’t give a damn what the public wants. They’re both despots in the making and despise the American people. Both are extremely impressed with themselves and believe themselves better than the people they supposedly serve. Two characters straight out of “Animal Farm “.
We need voter ID. Republicans say they are for it. changing a person. The rhinos side with the demcoms and try to defeat anything that miight be good for the country. Politics is nasty.
It’s incomprehensible to me that anyone would enable cheating in an election. I guess it shows the extent of moral decay in our country. The democrats want power at the expense of the people they’re supposed to serve.
This is one all of the most important bills of my lifetime and I’m 76 years old. If we cannot have election integrity, we are doomed because there are so many cheaters. They should be guilty of treason.
This is why we need to get rid of the filibuster. It was never part of the constitution. It is a procedural issue that has outlived its purpose. We elect a congress, senate and president and we do so to get things done. With the filibuster we do not pass laws wanted by the people. Instead we get negotiations that increase our debt to bribe elected officials to vote for a bill. It has so many additional pork added to it that it adds to the debt. Bills need to be voted on as is and if it passes with a majority vote it becomes law. You can’t let this can get kicked down the road because you think the democrats will do it if they get power again because they are already planning changes. Pass the SAVE act and a democrat will not be able to cheat to get into office.
To answer the headline question — Yes Congress can. The issue is “will they”. I honestly cannot see why any Republican would not be FOR the passage of that bill.
Totally understand the Dems’ stand on it. But they are in the minority. So, it is the turncoat Republicans (RINOs) who side with the Dems that are the problem. WHY?
And no doubt they are the same RINOs who side with Dems on other important GOP issues. VOTE THEM OUT and replace them with genuine pro-American candidates.
Utah’s Sen. Lee has the right idea, if indeed the republicans can’t get rid of the current filibuster, the talking filibuster is the best answer. It appears to me that the democrats just want to be opposite of what we the people want. They hate Trump because he stands for America. He does not rely on foreigners to vote for him, and takes no one’s dollars. The first president in my long life, that is both intelligent and courageous.
The dims know this and are eaten up with envy. It affects their thought process, while they hate Trump, they have NO ideas to compete with his ideas.
Thune and all republican senators should get behind the SAVE act and all democrats as well. 90% of the voters in America call for this. They want legitimate elections. No more dead people voting. No more ballot box stuffing. Legitimate elections. Only the RINO’s and the leftists refuse. Why? Because they like fraud to help them get elected. They want bribe money from the rich to set them up for life. The voters be damned. See Massie here. He voted his way while he was from a solid red district, ignoring the will of the voters. These reps and senators are supposed to represent the people. Like it was written by our forefathers. But no they all talk the rhetoric of the billionaires that keep them in office. The voters finally were smart enough to vote Massie out. That more of these bribed politicians may be kicked out in the primaries and the November election. Then maybe we will finally get legitimate elections like the people want.
As I understand it Thune can be removed (especially if a replacement is picked and supported beforehand) with someone willing to call for a vote on the Save America Act. The time is to get this bill passed before the Mid-Terms because anyone NOT inclined to support it will know it will cost them votes. This is why Thune and the other RINOs are fighting against voting for it now! I don’t trust Thune that it can’t pass if voted on now. It certainly can’t pass if an attempt to vote it in is never made!
To be clear what Americans want is voter I.D. in the form of driver’s licenses issued only to U.S. Citizens, or green card holders with the clear mark that they are ineligible to vote, every American citizen should be able to vote with either a valid driver’s license acquired by showing proof of citizenship, or by showing that proof directly in the form of a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or U.S. passport. What we don’t want, or need is a “national I.D. card” that can then be used to create a surveillance state coupled with a three lock cyber currency and social credit score a la communist China, We don’t want communism, and we love our freedom, we don’t want to be ruled by either East or West Coast “elites”, big bankers, the UN, WEFor the autopen polit bureau of the democrat party! Voter I.D. yes! A new personal identification card a la NAZI Germany, the Soviet Union, or communist China NO! Somehow our country used to be able to elect officials just fine when we used to utilize all paper ballots without “cyber magic” run by logic algorithms developed in Chavez’ Venezuela. We also don’t want a voting month, week, or quarter, the Constitution clearly states “election day” as in the 8-hour business portion of a 24-hour period. This all used to be a lot easier before we had a president who needed clarification of “what the definition of is, is.”
IF THE SAVE AMERICA ACT IS DEFEATED, THUNE MUST GO !
The fact that we have to try and pass something like this , show you how corrupt our Government has become.
Any congressmember who votes against the SAVE America Act is a GD traitor and needs to be treated as such.
The House passed it, the Senate dropped it. Thune has to go! Get someone in there that will get things done!
Perhaps if there was a penalty if the congress goes home for breaks, they might stay in place to do their jobs. There should be a way to force them to vote on this before any break is allowed and a way to secure the vote by making sure their constituents know how their representatives and senators voted.
We could probably make it happen if we could replace Thune!
its stalling for more illegal voting by dems,america must have save america act NOW
What should be done is that the Democrats should be DEPORTED along with the Illegals!!!
WHO is the Sargent at Arms? How much does she get paid? WHO pays her? Why is she allowed so much latitude and power over the senate activities? Does she have a vested interest in who wins in the senate? This organization is extremely corrupt. John Thune refuses to do his job. He has tried many times to make DJT look bad,but he is not following his oath to the Constitution or to the American people. IMPEACH THUNE AND EVERY NON SENATOR IN THIS ORGANIZATION? REMEMBER “BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!!! It is time to get going or get out.
Nuke the filibuster now! If and when the Demo_rats ever regain Senatorial power, they will eliminate it immediately! And, they have so stated!
Already know the Democrats won’t lift a finger to help any bill Trump likes through. Republicans need to show a little more backbone, and the RINOs are no help at all.
Can I have a list of the Rhinos? Please.
When will the 74 Presidential nominees (including 18 juridical nominees) be approved? We need rino Thune replaced with a MAGA leader.
How come the Senators vote in private? We should be able to see how they vote on the SAVE act. That would be helpful to see who is blocking it. F’n Rinos!
Some Republicans in the senate are not serious about our national agenda. They seem to think their job is to stay in the good graces of the establishment crowd. Term limits are to scream for! Many career politicians reach the point they are no longer in sync with the people who put them there. They do not live as we do and do not have our concerns. Term limits would at least limit our suffering!
We need the”SAVE AMERICA”act.There has been cheating when voting for a long time,but the last decade or so it has gotten worse along with the agenda of the democrats.This could also be called”deny illegal voting act”,which would really deny a lot of votes for democrats and their illegal voting base.
Why in the name heaven whould ayone oppose the save america act if not just to be able to let non-cicizens vote in our elections? COME ON PEOPLE! GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR DISTAL ORIFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the hope! I figured the bill was dead.
Isn’t it really telling that the Dems always, nearly unanimously, vote no for things that are helpful to the country and our citizens?
I think the Democrat party needs to be eliminated as a threat to our republic and start another second party.
OUR CONGRESS DOES NOT SERVE THE PEOPLE ANYMORE, IT SERVES ITSELF AND PASSES LAW THAT WILL HELP THEMSELVES. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF VETTING OUR CANDIDATES, THERE IS TO MUCH TEMPTATION FOR THE ELECTED WEAK ONES TO FILL THERE OWN BANK ACCOUNTS. THEY ARE NOT TRUE PATRIAT’S, WE MUST GET RID OF THEM.
It continues to aggrivate me as the left always seems to win the day when it come to election integrity. Everyone with a brain knows there has to bee identification of voters. No one in their right mind would agree just anyone should be permitted to come to the polls only because they are there. This has been the bane of our process of choosing leadership for decades. Maybe, just maybe, a federal mandate will come to pass and put and end to the graft and scamming of elections….I say maybe, mostly because the repubs. are weak and spineless in their actions that matter most for America. After all, every one of them, both parties are political animals, not statesmen, not servants of the people…..they are a breed in and of themselves. But we can’t put the blame only on their failures….the voters have become lax and lazy and share the burden of blame. I have to ask, NOW WHAT?
Wisconsin passed an amendment to their constitution that makes it mandatory to show a federal, tribal, DMV ID,etc. No one complains when they come to vote. No one wants their vote stollen. Just pass the bill and make it a federal law that you must show a photo ID. An picture ID should be shown at every election and if you do a absentee ballot you should also include a copy of your ID that stays with the certificate envelop when the ballot gets counted. This would stop some of the crap that goes on. Pass the Save Act
I have 2 GOP $enator$, but would not be averse to finding 2 new ones. Not even a little bit! Ones actually ready to vote for us Common Trash infesting ‘Murica…
Senate & House just took Mem Day vacation
why is there a august recess i haven’t seen it in the constitution, why can’t it be canceled and have them do what they were elected for.
The Republican Party does not like to lead and defers to the Democrats. This is a real problem. Leadership requires action and the Republicans do not take much initiative. Trump has not been afraid to lead but many Republicans like being the second fiddle. Trump likes to lead.
I despise the Dems so much. I also despise the RINO’s that vote along with the American hating Dems.
Earn your money Republicans, pass the care act.