The Senate's marathon debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act is set to enter its second week, as President Trump and conservative allies ramp up pressure to push the measure through the upper chamber.
Trump declared on Truth Social last week that the SAVE America Act is "one of the most IMPORTANT & CONSEQUENTIAL pieces of legislation in the history of Congress and America itself," and he vowed to withhold support from any Republican who opposes it.
The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in elections and the presentation of an ID to cast a ballot. It is already illegal under current law for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a leading proponent of the bill, said last week that "if we don't get it done or at least do everything we possibly can to try to get it passed, I think there is a very significant risk that our own base doesn't show up for us in November."
But despite the prolonged floor debate, the bill is expected to fail, given that some Democratic support would be needed to overcome a filibuster. No Democrat is expected to back the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously said in a press call the SAVE America Act is "one of the most despicable pieces of legislation I've come across in the many years I've been a legislator."
What else you can expect this week:
- DHS shutdown drags on: The White House and Senate Democrats remain at an impasse over a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as administration officials reach out to centrist Democrats.
- House Democrats to force vote on Iran war powers resolution: House Democrats plan to force a vote on another Iran war powers resolution this week. The last war powers resolution failed to pass the House by a vote of 212-219.
- Senate to vote on Mullin confirmation: The Senate will hold a final vote to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as the new head of DHS.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) faces a challenging week ahead, as the upper chamber is set to begin a two-week recess on March 30, intensifying pressure from conservatives to pass the SAVE America Act before the break.
But Democrats have indicated they won't budge in their opposition to the bill.
Many House Republicans have pushed Thune to sidestep Democratic opposition by returning to a "talking filibuster," which would force Democrats to speak continuously on the Senate floor to delay the bill. In such a scenario, if Democrats ceded the floor, Republicans could pass the measure with 51 votes.
But Thune has opted against using such a procedure, which he has previously said is "much more complicated and risky than people are assuming."
Several House Republicans have said they would vote down any Senate-passed bills until the SAVE America Act passes the Senate.
Some GOP lawmakers have grumbled that the most outspoken proponents of the SAVE America Act are creating unrealistic expectations for passing the bill.
"I've heard the leader say, and I've been in news conferences where he's said, 'We do not have the votes to pass this,'" Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said, referring to Thune.
Thune told Fox News anchor Bret Baier in an interview last week that Republicans will attack Democrats in the fall elections for failing to enact the SAVE America Act if they don't "get on board" with the voting reform bill.
"I mean, actually, if you look at the substance of the policy, this is about safe and secure elections in this country and making sure we have an election process that is actually the right people -- not just the illegals who are in this country -- have an opportunity to vote," he said.
Senate Democrats voted Saturday to defeat a Republican-sponsored amendment to the SAVE America Act that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' or women's sports, an issue that Republicans plan to play up in this year's midterm elections.
Senate Democrats blast White House DHS counteroffer
The White House and Senate Democrats remain deadlocked over a deal to reopen DHS, with talks to continue this week.
Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other critical federal agencies last week for the fifth time. Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote "yes."
Senate Democrats had also brushed off a counterproposal offered by the White House, in which the administration agreed it would expand the use of body-worn cameras and limit ICE operations around "sensitive locations," such as schools and hospitals. The administration also said it would increase oversight of DHS detention facilities, enforce "the use of visible officer identification" during operations and require officers to identify themselves and their agency when requested.
But Democrats said the offer failed to meet several of their key demands, including a comprehensive ban on masks and face coverings for immigration officers and a requirement to obtain a judicial warrant before entering private property.
A group of centrist Democrats met with White House border czar Tom Homan last week as the White House attempts to appeal to the lawmakers who broke with Schumer last year to help reopen the government.
But the two sides appeared far apart emerging from a Thursday meeting.
"Democrats have made their demands very clear," Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who voted more than a dozen times to reopen the government during last year's standoff, said afterward. "I'm glad that the White House is talking with us, but they have a lot of work to do."
The senators met with Homan on Friday as well.
House Democrats, meanwhile, unveiled a discharge petition designed to force a vote on legislation to fund TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coast Guard and other DHS subagencies -- but not ICE or Customs and Border Protection. The effort is a long shot, however. The petition requires 218 signatures, meaning Democrats, who hold 214 seats in the House, would need to secure support from at least four Republicans.
House Democrats to force vote on Iran war powers resolution
House Democrats are planning to force a vote on another Iran war powers resolution this week, with a vote likely on Wednesday, according to Politico.
Democrats have already brought one war powers resolution to the floor this month. Sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), that legislation would have required the administration to cease its military operation against Iran unless the campaign is explicitly approved by Congress. The measure failed on March 5 by a narrow vote of 212 to 219.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters last week the new resolution would contain substantial differences from the first, to reflect the developments in the conflict over the last three weeks, as well as the sentiment of voters, a majority of whom oppose the war, according to recent polls.
Jeffries also predicted the measure would gain more Democratic support than the Massie-Khanna bill, which was opposed by Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas).
Landsman wrote on the social platform X that he will vote for the resolution when it comes to the floor.
"I urge every one of my colleagues to vote Yes. The United States Armed Forces have accomplished remarkable tactical and strategic successes," he wrote. "It's now time to be done."
Senate to vote on Mullin confirmation
The Senate will hold a final vote for Mullin to be confirmed as the new DHS secretary, after a motion to advance his nomination cleared the chamber on Sunday. Fetterman and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted in favor of Mullin.
Heinrich in a statement called Mullin a "friend" and said he would not get bullied by White House advisers who favor taking a hard line on immigration enforcement.
Mullin was tapped to lead DHS after Trump fired Kristi Noem from the role. He faced a fiery confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last week, during which Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) repeatedly pressed Mullin on past comments referring to the Kentucky senator as a snake and questioned whether the Oklahoma Republican had the correct temperament to lead the sprawling department.
The committee ended up advancing his nomination by a vote of 8-7. Fetterman was the lone Democrat to vote in favor of Mullin; Paul was a no vote.
"I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind. We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation's security," Fetterman wrote on X.
But Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), ranking member of the committee, said last week that Mullin "is not up to that challenge" to lead DHS. He argued Mullin had displayed a history of aggression, from threatening to fight Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien during a Senate hearing to remarking that he understood why Paul's neighbor violently attacked him.
"When I heard President Trump would be nominating Senator Mullin, I kept an open mind. However, throughout the nomination process, he has failed to be forthright and transparent. Senator Mullin also showed that he doesn't have the experience or the temperament to lead this critical department," he said.