The September deadline for passing a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown looms, conservative House Republicans are intensifying their push to attach the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to this critical funding measure. The proposed legislation aims to tighten voter registration requirements, ensuring that noncitizens are barred from federal elections.
The Freedom Caucus, a faction of staunchly conservative House Republicans, has been at the forefront of this initiative. They are urging their leaders to make the inclusion of the SAVE Act a non-negotiable condition for extending government funding. This strategy reflects their determination to advance the bill, which was passed by the House in July with a 221-198 vote, predominantly along party lines.
The SAVE Act, spearheaded by Texas Republican Chip Roy, mandates that individuals must provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It also includes provisions to bolster the enforcement of existing laws that prohibit noncitizens from participating in federal elections. Despite its passage in the House, the Senate, controlled by Democrats, has yet to consider the bill.
More Read
Senate Democrats argue that the SAVE Act does little to enhance election security and may create unnecessary obstacles for eligible voters. This opposition has led the Freedom Caucus to leverage the urgency of passing the CR to force the Senate’s hand on the bill. They contend that attaching the SAVE Act to the CR is a strategic move to compel action, given the risk of a government shutdown.
The Freedom Caucus’s demand reflects a broader ideological divide within Congress over election integrity and immigration policy. Their official statement emphasizes the importance of the SAVE Act in preventing noncitizen voting, a concern heightened by recent discussions on immigration and election security.
“The Continuing Resolution should include the SAVE Act—as called for by former President Trump—to prevent noncitizens from voting to preserve free and fair elections in light of the millions of illegal aliens imported by the Biden-Harris administration over the last four years,” the group declared.
This proposal also hints at a longer-term strategy, with the Freedom Caucus advocating for extending government funding into early 2025. They argue that this extension would allow the next president to participate in negotiations over new funding levels and policies for the remainder of the fiscal year, shaping federal budget and policy beyond the current administration.
In their outreach to the public and other lawmakers, the Freedom Caucus has called for support to advance the SAVE Act. They are pressing Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer to bring the bill to the floor and for President Biden to sign it into law, underscoring the stakes involved.
The potential consequences of this legislative standoff are significant. If the House and Senate fail to agree on the CR due to disagreements over the SAVE Act, a government shutdown could ensue. Such an outcome would disrupt federal services and impact the economy, further straining the already tense relationship between the two chambers.
As the deadline approaches, the debate over the SAVE Act and its possible attachment to the CR is expected to escalate. This clash highlights the deepening divide within Congress on issues of election integrity and immigration, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown with substantial implications for both government operations and U.S. election law.
