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House Republicans are eyeing the inclusion of the full SAVE America Act in their party-line budget bill, two sources familiar with discussions told the Washington Examiner.
A source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that Republicans and leadership are “actively” working through attaching a “real mandatory SAVE policy” to the $95 billion budget bill with the goal of it overcoming the Senate’s “Byrd bath.”
The House Administration Committee, which would oversee the portion of the reconciliation bill handling the inclusion of any voter ID and proof of citizenship language, has been allotted $10 billion in the House’s budget framework.
GOP hard-liners have been pushing for “mandatory” language to be written in the House’s version of the reconciliation bill for voter ID and proof of citizenship, the main components of the House-passed SAVE America Act, instead of a “watered-down” version that would incentivize the implementation of election integrity measures through grant programs floated by the House Administration Committee and GOP leadership.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has previously said Republicans will work to pass as much of the SAVE America Act into law “as possible.”
"This budget resolution, which kickstarts Reconciliation 3.0, is a process," Johnson told reporters last week. "It's our best shot at enacting our party's top priority legislation, the SAVE America Act."
A source familiar with the discussions told the Washington Examiner that while talks have included inserting the full SAVE America Act into the House administration’s version, the majority of talks have concerned the committee’s proposed incentive program.
Republicans are still several steps away from finalizing policy items in the budget bill, as both the House and Senate must pass identical budget resolutions to unlock the reconciliation process.
The House is set to vote on its version of the budget framework released last week on Wednesday, with House GOP leadership hoping to pass the budget resolution before leaving for a monthlong August recess.
The Senate’s budgetary framework has also been delayed by the unexpected death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who served as the Budget Committee chairman.
Still, in its current form, the SAVE America Act would not pass the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which governs policies allowed in reconciliation bills, meaning Republicans would need to overrule the parliamentarian’s ruling, something Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has previously refused to do.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) told the Washington Examiner that the SAVE America Act "may be altered a little bit, just to become a little more consistent with Senate policy."
He continued, "But again, this is going to the Senate. If they have to change it into something that satisfies the parliamentarian or the chair, that's up to them."
Thune has resisted repeated calls from President Donald Trump to fire Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, saying that whether or not the SAVE America Act passes the upper chamber is a “function of math,” and the legislation does not have the votes.
Still, GOP hard-liners are making a mandatory language inclusion of voter ID and proof of citizenship a key factor in their decision to support the reconciliation bill or not.
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) told reporters Monday that he does not support the budget resolution as it stands, but said he would if the Senate passes language that “compels states” to “actually implement” the SAVE America Act.
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Rep Keith Self (R-TX) said, "At the end of the day, when it comes back from the Senate, there better be a mandatory SAVE America Act in it."
"Yeah, I got they may — they have to have some implementation dollars in there, but a grant SAVE America program, voluntary, is not going to cut it."
Lauren Green contributed to this report.
