What Vance Told Senate Republicans About SAVE America Behind Closed Doors

Vice President JD Vance attended the Senate GOP lunch Thursday to stir up support for the White House’s top priorities before a looming deadline. The Senate has one day left before its five-week recess, and the clock is ticking to pass the SAVE America Act.

Invited by his home-state ally, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, Vance received a round of applause when he walked in. He spoke to senators about the SAVE America Act, a resolution to avoid a government shutdown, and military funding for the war in Iran.

President Donald Trump and top Republicans have prioritized the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote, voter identification at polling places, and the removal of illegal aliens from voter registration rolls. The president wants it passed before the upper chamber leaves Washington.

Vance relayed that message to Senate Republicans, who are attempting to advance a budget resolution that includes provisions of the SAVE America Act and defense funding to unlock the reconciliation process. They also want an early, “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government through the deadline and avoid another government shutdown.

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told the Daily Signal that the SAVE America Act “is coming.”

Banks is among the group of senators urging Majority Leader John Thune to stay in session until lawmakers pass the president’s top priority. The senator said Vance told them to “pass the SAVE America Act, pass the budget, pass the CR [continuing resolution].”

“It’s only a matter of time before we pass the CR and hopefully, we can get the votes to pass the budget, too,” he told reporters.

However, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told reporters there is still no plan. Many senators, including Thune, are unsure whether Republicans have the votes needed to pass the budget resolution. Some are skeptical about passing the election security measures, while others want more than the House’s proposed $70 billion for defense.

Many senators emerging from the meeting said the vice president spent significant time talking about Iran. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters he “talked a lot about Iran,” but there was no updated number on defense spending. Johnson said the meeting was about “everything else.”

“The vice president responded to questions, and a lot of questions were about Iran,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters.