Republicans Call for Proof of Citizenship Bill to Be Attached to Spending Measure

Several Republican lawmakers are urging their colleagues to include a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in an upcoming stopgap spending measure, citing concerns about voter fraud.

Republican senators have proposed attaching a bill that would safeguard elections and require proof of citizenship to vote to an upcoming stopgap spending measure, aiming to prevent a government shutdown at the end of next month.

Prominent conservative Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have pushed for the bill, which would mandate proof of citizenship before registering to vote in federal elections, to be tethered to a spending bill extension.

Republicans Call for Proof of Citizenship Bill to Be Attached to Spending Measure

"There isn't a good argument against attaching the SAVE Act to the September spending bill," Lee said in one of several posts promoting the idea.

Other Republican senators, including Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), also shared their support for the legislation, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, in posts on social media.

Republicans Call for Proof of Citizenship Bill to Be Attached to Spending Measure

"Texas just announced that it has removed 6,500+ non-citizens from its voter rolls, almost 2,000 of which illegally voted in past elections. We cannot ignore this threat to our democratic process. It's time to pass my SAVE Act & stop illegal voting," Scott said.

The SAVE Act was initially passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 221-198, primarily along party lines. Five Democrats split with their party to support it.

Republicans Call for Proof of Citizenship Bill to Be Attached to Spending Measure

The ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has expressed its desire to see the measure included in the stopgap government spending package next month.

"HouseGOP must force the question by attaching the SAVE Act to a 6-month funding bill before the Sept. 30 funding deadline," wrote House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on social media.

While vocal conservative lawmakers see the spending measure as an opportunity to force a vote on the Republican priority, top Republican appropriator Tom Cole (R-Okla.) has cast doubt on its inclusion.

"If it can't pass the Senate, it isn't going to be an effective CR," Cole told reporters last month.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) has also indicated that keeping the government open and avoiding a shutdown is paramount to him.

The Biden-Harris administration has come out in strong opposition to the SAVE Act, stating that it would not be signed by the president if passed.