Senate Republicans are facing mounting pressure to advance President Donald Trump's top election priority, the SAVE America Act, which has stalled in the upper chamber for months. With midterm elections approaching, GOP leaders are exploring a new strategy to bypass Democratic opposition by incorporating elements of the bill into a budget reconciliation package. The House on Wednesday unveiled a draft framework for a third reconciliation bill, which would focus on defense funding, farm assistance, and election security measures.
Under the proposed plan, a $10 billion pot of money included in the budget blueprint would be used to incentivize states to adopt key provisions of the SAVE America Act, such as voter ID requirements and proof-of-citizenship mandates for REAL IDs. This approach is designed to overcome the strict Byrd Rule in the Senate, which limits what can be included in reconciliation bills. By offering grants rather than imposing federal mandates, Republicans hope to avoid the procedural hurdles that have blocked the original legislation.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., a member of the House Budget Committee, described the situation as a "come-to-Jesus moment" for Senate Republicans, who must decide whether to support the strongest possible reconciliation package. "Certain senators are gonna have to find a real come-to-Jesus moment to pass the strongest reconciliation package possible," Stutzman told Fox News Digital. The pressure is intensifying as Trump and vocal proponents of the SAVE America Act demand action, both within Congress and among conservative activists.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., a member of the Senate Budget Committee, expressed cautious optimism about the grant-based approach. "If this provision is written the right way — tied to states that already have voter ID on the books, not a new federal enforcement — I believe it can survive reconciliation's rules," Marshall said. However, he emphasized that he is "not satisfied with a Band-Aid" and called for a full vote on voter ID, proof of citizenship, and mail-in ballot restrictions. "Kansans deserve election integrity, and I'm going to keep fighting until we get it done," he added.
The budget blueprint is the first step in the complex reconciliation process, which allows Republicans to pass legislation with a simple majority, avoiding the 60-vote threshold typically required in the Senate. However, the framework faces an uphill battle in the House, where various factions of the Republican conference have expressed skepticism. House Budget Committee is expected to mark up the blueprint on Thursday, with GOP leaders aiming for a chamber-wide floor vote by the end of next week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, when asked about some Republicans calling the budget blueprint "dead on arrival," told Fox News, "We'll get it done." The House Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal election law, has been tasked with crafting the guardrails for the plan and has until Sept. 11 to finalize the details. This timeline adds urgency as Trump continues to hold Washington hostage over the SAVE Act, with midterm elections looming and GOP control at stake.
The SAVE America Act, first passed by the House earlier this year, has failed to pass the Senate, where Democrats and a cohort of Republicans have blocked it. The grant program would allow states to opt in to adopting the act, covering implementation costs without imposing new federal enforcement. This approach could be the difference maker in the upper chamber, according to sources familiar with the planning. However, critics argue that the measure falls short of the comprehensive election integrity reforms that Trump and his allies have demanded.
Senate Republicans have struggled for months to get the stalled election measure across the finish line, which Trump has labeled his top legislative priority. The early deliberations come as pressure mounts from Trump and vocal proponents of the SAVE America Act, both within Congress and online. The outcome of this reconciliation effort could have significant implications for the 2026 midterm elections, as voter ID and election security remain key issues for the GOP base.
As the process moves forward, the focus will be on whether the grant-based approach can satisfy both procedural requirements and political demands. The House Budget Committee's markup on Thursday will be a critical test, and the subsequent floor vote will determine whether the blueprint can advance. With the Sept. 11 deadline for the House Administration Committee, the clock is ticking for Republicans to deliver on Trump's priority before the midterm campaign season intensifies.
