He also criticized congressional Democrats for opposing the legislation.
“It’s a shame that the Democrats aren’t going to help us get this done given that a majority of Democrat voters actually want us to have election integrity in this country.”
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and would require voters to present identification when casting ballots in federal races.
Republican leaders have repeatedly described the legislation as one of President Trump’s highest legislative priorities.
Earlier this month, Johnson said House Republicans viewed reconciliation as their strongest opportunity to move the bill through Congress.
Even after the House approved the package, however, the proposal still faces procedural questions in the Senate.
Several Republican senators have acknowledged that portions of the SAVE America Act, as currently written, may not comply with the Senate’s Byrd Rule governing budget reconciliation.
Lawmakers have discussed modifying the legislation—including possible grant-based incentives for states—to improve its chances of surviving parliamentary review.
Democrats have opposed the legislation, arguing it could create barriers for eligible voters who do not readily have documentary proof of citizenship.
Republicans counter that the measure is necessary to protect the integrity of federal elections.
Whether the reconciliation strategy ultimately succeeds will depend on both the Senate parliamentarian’s rulings and whether Republican leaders can unite enough votes to move the legislation through the narrowly divided Senate.
For now, Wednesday’s meeting demonstrated that the White House is continuing to make the SAVE America Act a central legislative priority as Republicans search for a viable path to President Trump’s desk before the next national election.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
