Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) urged Senate Republicans to make passage of the SAVE America Act a priority, calling on GOP leadership candidates to commit to advancing the election legislation within two months.
Scott Makes SAVE America Act a GOP Leadership Test
On Sunday, in a post on X, Scott said he had spent more than two years pushing for the legislation and called on Republican leaders to secure its passage before their Senate majority ends.
“I’ve been fighting for over two years to get the SAVE/SAVE America Act passed in the Senate. We have two months to get it done,” Scott wrote.
He also sought to make support for the bill a requirement for Republicans seeking leadership positions.
“Every candidate for a leadership job must commit to passing it. Failure is not an option,” he added.
Scott’s deadline comes as Republicans approach the end of the 119th Congress, which concludes Jan. 3, 2027. The party could face a different political landscape when the next Congress convenes.
Lee Outlines Filibuster Strategy
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) backed Scott’s push to pass the SAVE America Act, outlining a strategy to overcome Senate opposition.
Resharing Scott’s post, Lee said, “The formula remains the same,” proposing to bring the bill to the Senate floor, require senators filibustering the measure to speak, and call a vote under a simple-majority threshold once they stop speaking.
He added that Republicans should “announce that debate will continue until it passes.”
The SAVE America Act is a Republican-backed bill that seeks to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Trump and Johnson Push SAVE America Act
In July, Trump urged Congress to prioritize the SAVE America Act and $350 billion in defense funding through Reconciliation 3.0, calling both measures the “Number One Priority.”
Previously, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also pushed to pass the voter ID legislation through a third reconciliation bill to bypass the Senate filibuster.
Democrats Criticize SAVE America Act
Earlier this year, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) warned that the SAVE America Act could disenfranchise millions, particularly seniors, by imposing stricter citizenship documentation and in-person registration requirements.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats would block the legislation, warning that it could purge voters, restrict registration methods and impose strict identification and in-person requirements.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) also criticized the bill, calling it “stupid” and “insane,” while arguing that it went too far despite his support for voter ID laws.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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