Johnson Unveils New Strategy To Force Senate Vote On SAVE Act
House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a new strategy this week to force Senate action on the SAVE America Act.
The Speaker announced plans to merge the election integrity measure with the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act after conservatives brought House business to a standstill.
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The move comes after a group of hard-line Republicans refused to support procedural rules needed to advance legislation unless the Senate acts on the SAVE America Act or the House takes additional steps to pressure the upper chamber.
The SAVE America Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and require voters to present identification when casting a ballot.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Johnson said House Republicans would use an unusual parliamentary procedure known as “MIRVing” to package the two bills together before sending them to the Senate.
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“We’re going to pass a MIRV, or what’s better known as a merge onto the rule,” Johnson said.
“So what that means is, when Republicans vote for the rule, they’ll be voting not just for the NDAA and everything else is there, but they’ll be voting to merge onto that the SAVE America Act we passed back in February.”
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Johnson said the maneuver would ensure the Senate receives both measures together.
“So that will send both of those items together over to the Senate, and so if any Republicans choose to vote against the rule, they will be voting against that outcome. So we think this is another good way to show the resolve of the House.”
The proposal is designed to demonstrate House Republicans’ commitment to election integrity legislation while attempting to increase pressure on the Senate to consider the bill.
Still, Johnson’s strategy faces significant hurdles.
Even if the combined package reaches the Senate, lawmakers there could remove the SAVE America Act from the defense bill before final passage.
The approach also risks complicating consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, one of Congress’ annual must-pass pieces of legislation that authorizes military programs and defense spending.
Not every Republican is convinced Johnson’s plan goes far enough.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida quickly criticized the proposal, arguing that simply attaching the SAVE America Act procedurally would still allow the Senate to strip it from the final legislation.
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“‘MIRVing’ the NDAA plus either SAVE America or Voter I.D. would still allow the Senate to strip out either or,” Luna wrote on X.
“The only way to ensure the Senate passes this is to make sure it’s in the bill text of the NDAA, meaning that my amendment(s) must be made an order.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult, but this is what 80% of Americans want and what we promised the American people, so I stand by my decision.”
Johnson’s proposal could also create new political challenges with Democrats, who have strongly opposed the SAVE America Act and are expected to vote against the NDAA if the election legislation remains attached.
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Democrats have argued the bill would create unnecessary barriers to voting, while Republicans contend it is needed to protect election integrity by ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections.
The legislation currently approved by the House also does not include restrictions on mail-in voting, one of President Donald Trump’s key priorities in election reform.
Some conservatives indicated they remain open to Johnson’s approach but want additional details before committing their support.
Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee said lawmakers still need to review the proposal.
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“We might be able to get everything we want, but as Luna said, we’d need to see it on paper first,” Burchett told reporters.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland, however, expressed support for any strategy that advances the legislation, The Hill reported.
“Any way to include the SAVE or SAVE America Act on everything coming out of the House, I’m for,” Harris said.
Thune Pushes For Senate To Pass Graham’s Russia Sanctions Bill
One of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s final priorities before his unexpected death may still become law, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The Republican leader said Monday that passing a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia would not only advance U.S. policy toward Ukraine but also serve as a lasting tribute to Graham’s decades of work on national security.
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Thune, R-S.D., said he remains optimistic that the Senate can pass the sweeping Russia sanctions legislation Graham championed before his death, calling it a fitting way to honor the late South Carolina senator’s legacy.
Graham died Saturday at the age of 71. According to a statement released by his office, the preliminary cause of death was an acute aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill the Senate seat until voters elect a successor in November.
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Graham had spent much of his final months urging Congress to impose tougher economic sanctions on Russia in response to its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Just one day before his death, Graham met in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming his support for continued U.S. assistance and increased pressure on Moscow.
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Following news of Graham’s death, Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” and praised the senator as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in Washington.
Appearing Monday on CNN, Thune told anchor Dana Bash that Graham’s sanctions bill remains a priority for Senate leadership.
When asked whether the legislation would still receive a vote, Thune said he was hopeful.
“I certainly hope that we can get there to do that,” Thune said.
He explained that the White House had worked closely with Graham on the proposal and noted that Democrats had also expressed support for the legislation.
According to Thune, the measure could ultimately receive between 80 and 90 votes in the Senate if lawmakers can agree on the final language.
“Lindsey had been working that issue for a long time,” Thune said.
“It’s one of those things he was very passionate about. He wants to see a free and independent Ukraine, as all of us do.”
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Thune also described economic sanctions as one of the most important foreign policy tools available to the United States.
“He was a big believer that economic sanctions are a huge tool for the president and his administration, for us to achieve that outcome,” Thune said.
The Senate majority leader suggested the sanctions package had become Graham’s top legislative priority during his final days.
“This sanctions bill was probably, in his last days, the thing that he cared the most about, in terms of an accomplishment,” Thune said.
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“So I’m hopeful we can get that done. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time.”
Thune concluded by saying passage of the legislation would become a lasting part of Graham’s legacy.
“It would certainly be an incredible legacy for him if, in fact, we could find a path forward,” he said.
“It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that. But I’m hopeful we can make that happen.”
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Although the legislation has broad bipartisan support, senators have not yet announced when it could receive a floor vote.
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If approved, the bill would represent one of the final policy victories tied directly to Graham’s decades-long focus on American national security and his unwavering support for Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion, Mediaite
Whether Congress ultimately advances the legislation may now depend not only on political negotiations, but also on lawmakers’ desire to complete what many of Graham’s colleagues have described as his final major legislative mission.
