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President Donald Trump announced on Sunday (March 8) that he will not sign any new bills until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. This proposed legislation aims to overhaul voting laws by requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. Trump emphasized that a "watered down" version of the act would not suffice.
The SAVE America Act faces significant challenges in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to pass. Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with the bill's slow progress, writing on Truth Social that, "It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE." He also mentioned additional provisions he wants, such as restrictions on men in women's sports and banning gender reassignment surgery for children, which are not part of the current bill.
The House passed the bill last month, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has indicated that the Senate is not unified enough to use a "talking filibuster" to advance the bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to Trump's announcement by stating that Senate Democrats would not support the SAVE America Act, calling it a measure that would "disenfranchise tens of millions of people."
The government is currently facing a partial shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Trump's refusal to sign any bills could prolong this shutdown, even if Congress reaches a funding agreement. However, if a bill is not signed by the president within 10 days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.
Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, and other Republicans are pressuring Thune to push the bill forward. Meanwhile, some GOP members, like Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., support using the talking filibuster to force a vote on the act. However, former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., opposes this strategy due to time constraints.
The SAVE America Act's future remains uncertain as the Senate grapples with internal divisions and Democratic opposition.