House Republicans are strategizing to advance core components of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act before the end of the year, employing the budget reconciliation process to circumvent Democratic opposition and the Senate filibuster. This approach would allow for the passage of election integrity measures with a simple majority vote.
Key provisions targeted for inclusion are a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration and a nationwide photo ID mandate for casting ballots. House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., who is leading the effort, stated that while the Senate's pace has been a point of frustration, he believes there are sufficient votes for these measures.
"I'd rather pass the SAVE America Act. But recognizing that the Senate might not be able to get that done with the 60-vote threshold, let's leverage the parliamentary procedure, bring that threshold down to 50, and get some really commonsense reforms done," Steil told Fox News Digital. He added that he has been in communication with colleagues in the administration and the Senate.
The budget reconciliation process involves both the House and Senate passing budget frameworks that instruct relevant committees to enact fiscal policies. These committees then draft their respective portions, which are consolidated into a single bill. For the SAVE America Act provisions to pass via reconciliation, anything impacting federal spending, tax policy, or the national debt must be included. Steil suggested that these provisions could be framed as affecting federal funds distributed to states through the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), thereby qualifying for the process. He also noted that making REAL ID the national standard could effectively address the citizenship mandate, as obtaining a REAL ID requires proof of citizenship.
The Trump administration supports this strategy. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought has reportedly informed Republicans that the White House favors using reconciliation for the SAVE America Act, viewing it as the most viable path for enacting the GOP's election reforms.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has expressed urgency, emphasizing the need for swift action due to the approaching elections. "We passed the SAVE America Act four times in the House. This is the last best effort to get it through the Senate, so I'm for doing it as quickly as possible," Johnson said. He acknowledged differences in proposed spending levels between House and Senate reconciliation bills but expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
The House previously passed its version of a reconciliation bill, a $95 billion package focused on military funding and election security. However, the Senate's version, unveiled by Budget Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., proposes up to $150 billion in spending, and its advancement remains uncertain. The timeline for passing such a bill, especially with the inclusion of election integrity measures, is considered tight.