SAVE America Act fight heats up as Republicans try new ways to pass it
SAVE America Act fight heats up as Republicans try new ways to pass it
Maria Francis, USA TODAY NETWORKFri, July 24, 2026 at 11:16 AM UTC
16
Voter ID language added to a stock-trading bill has drawn the ire of House Democrats, who watched the bill move forward despite protests.
The effort represents one of the most recent attempts by House Republicans to enact portions of President Donald Trump's election agenda. The Stop Insider Trading Act is a bill aimed at restricting stock trading by members of Congress. The House approved the measure on July 22, but the addition of the voting provision drew fierce criticism from Democrats.
Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, blasted the move during floor debate, saying Republicans had "corrupted their so-called stock-trading bill with a decaying piece of the SAVE America Act corpse" and calling the voter ID language a "poison pill."
The House bill stops short of the full SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
The SAVE Act has not passed the Senate yet, but Republican lawmakers in the upper chamber are trying several new strategies, such as stuffing it into budget resolution bills, in effort to get the controversial voting measure passed before the 2026 midterm elections.
Republican leaders are also trying another route. House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders have backed a broader budget and spending package that includes funding related to the Iran war effort, assistance for farmers and provisions connected to Trump's voting regulations agenda, including elements of the SAVE America Act. Republicans hope attaching election-related measures to must-pass legislation will increase pressure on the Senate to act.
Meanwhile, some Senate conservatives have discussed linking SAVE Act provisions to upcoming government funding legislation ahead of the Sept. 30 spending deadline, potentially setting up a high-profile fight over election rules as Congress races to avoid a shutdown.
Despite those efforts, the SAVE Act has not passed the Senate. Democratic opposition and Senate procedural hurdles remain major obstacles, and the legislation still lacks a clear path to President Trump's desk.
Chuck Schumer echoed the same sentiment on Wednesday on X that he has been stating for months, "I’ll say it every day if I have to. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival in the United States Senate."
Did the SAVE Act pass the Senate?
No.
As of July 23, the SAVE Act has not passed the Senate and has not become law. The House approved the legislation, but it remains in limbo in the upper chamber. Republican leaders continue searching for ways to advance all or parts of the proposal despite repeated setbacks.
Advertisement
Senate Republicans have acknowledged the bill currently lacks the support needed to overcome the Senate's 60-vote threshold required for most legislation.
What is the SAVE Act? SAVE America Act explained
The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. The legislation directs states to take additional steps to verify voter eligibility and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
Supporters argue the bill is needed to secure elections, while opponents note that federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections and say cases of noncitizen voting are rare.
What has Trump said about the SAVE Act?
President Donald Trump has made passage of the SAVE America Act one of his top election-related priorities heading into the 2026 midterm elections. During a nationally televised address on July 16, Trump again urged Congress to approve the legislation and criticized the Senate for failing to act.
His continued pressure has fueled Republican efforts to find alternative paths for the legislation, including attaching provisions to spending measures and other bills moving through Congress.
Will the SAVE Act become law?
The answer remains uncertain.
Republicans control Congress and continue searching for legislative vehicles to advance the proposal, but the bill still faces significant obstacles in the Senate, where Democrats have pledged to block it and procedural rules remain a major hurdle.
Will the SAVE Act pass? Odds, predictions
The betting odds and market predictions of the SAVE America Act passing the Senate and signed into law in 2026 are still very low, with a 11% chance of it passing, according to the Polymarket and an even lower 7.5% odds on the Kalshi market.
Note: Polls and odds are constantly changing. These numbers reflect polling and odds as of Thursday, July 23, 2026.
When are the 2026 midterm elections?
The 2026 midterm elections will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: SAVE America Act fight heats up as Republicans try new ways to pass it
Source: “AOL Breaking”
