House GOP Pushes SAVE Act as Shutdown Fears Loom

The House of Representatives is racing to pass four major bills before its August recess, including a $95 billion budget reconciliation package, a $1.15 trillion defense spending bill, short-term government funding, and a congressional stock trade ban. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is navigating a slim majority, with only a handful of votes to spare. President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to unify behind the SAVE America Act, a voter identification and elections bill, which has been attached to the defense spending bill through a procedural loophole. The legislation has also been incorporated into the stock trade ban and reconciliation budget resolution. Trump’s push comes as some conservative Republicans threaten to block the budget resolution unless the full SAVE America Act is included. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) told the Washington Examiner that he would support the bill only if it includes the full SAVE Act. Meanwhile, fiscal hawks like Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) have expressed concerns about the bill’s spending increases, with the national debt nearing $39.5 trillion. The House has faced delays due to internal disputes, including a recent withdrawal of a veterans bill over benefit cut concerns. Johnson has proposed a continuing resolution to fund the government through mid-December to avoid a shutdown. Senate conservatives, including Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), have discussed attaching the SAVE Act to a short-term funding measure, though Democrats are expected to oppose it. Some Republicans are exploring budget reconciliation as a way to bypass the filibuster. The House must pass a spending bill by the end of September to prevent a government shutdown.