Johnson unveils plan to tie SAVE America Act to annual defense bill
House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a plan to resolve legislative gridlock by attaching the SAVE America Act to a $1.15 trillion defense bill, which could threaten the bill’s passage. During a House Rules Commitee meeting, Johnson explained that if Republican members approve the rule, thay would also be endorsing the merger of the NDAA with the SAVE america Act, sending both to the Senate together. This move aims to bypass previous GOP blockades that prevented key bills from advancing, including two appropriations bills and the defense bill. However, resistance remains, notably from Rep. anna Paulina Luna,who insists her amendments-such as voter identification-must be included in the bill to ensure Senate approval. Luna and other GOP members have enough votes to oppose the legislation unless their demands are met, complicating prospects for passage. The addition of the SAVE America Act to the NDAA effectively jeopardizes the legislation’s progress in the Senate, as Majority Leader John Thune has been unable to secure its approval. This reflects ongoing tensions on Capitol Hill regarding legislative priorities and strategies.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) laid out a plan to break the gridlock in the House by attaching the SAVE America Act to the $1.15 trillion defense spending bill, possibly jeopardizing its path to passage on the floor.
Johnson unveiled the plan Monday night as the House Rules Committee met to advance the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) pledging to sink the bill if her voter identification amendment is not attached.
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“We’re going to pass a MIRV, or what’s better known as a merge, onto the rule, so what that means is when Republicans vote for the rule, they will be voting not just for the NDAA and everything else is there, but they’ll be voting to merge onto that the SAVE America Act that we passed back in February, so that will send both of those items together over to the Senate,” the speaker told reporters.
Before the speaker brought this plan forward, the GOP blockade had effectively prevented House GOP leadership from advancing key legislative items, including two appropriations bills this week, and would have threatened the passage of the annual defense bill.
But this may not be enough to get the legislation through the House.
Luna is still pushing for her amendments to the defense spending bill in return for her vote on the measure.
“’MIRVing’ the NDAA plus either SAVE America or Voter I.D. would still allow the Senate to strip out either or,” Luna posted on X. “The only way to ensure the Senate passes this is to make sure it’s in the bill text of the NDAA, meaning that my amendment(s) must be made an order. I’m not trying to be difficult, but this is what 80% of Americans want and what we promised the American people, so I stand by my decision.”
Luna had pledged to vote against procedural measures to bring legislation to the House floor until the Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The Florida Republican said she and fellow GOP members have enough votes to sink any legislation put on the House floor by Johnson.
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The addition of the SAVE America Act to the NDAA dooms the legislation in the Senate, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been unable to get the measure to the president’s desk. Thune has chalked up the failure of passage to the semantics in his chamber.
This marks another step in the fight on Capitol Hill, as the House remains frustrated with the Senate’s failure to pass this legislation.
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