LIVE: Senate SAVE America Act Debate

Senator Kennedy suggests a strategy to immediately reopen the government and fund the unfunded parts of DHS (like ICE) by passing a budget resolution through reconciliation. This procedural maneuver would bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold, requiring only 50 votes plus the Vice President, making it a viable path for the majority party.

Kennedy states, 'We should start a budget resolution through reconciliation. We should pass a budget for the rest of ICE, rest of DHS that's not open now... It would not take 60 votes. It would take 50 votes plus the vice president.'

Senator Marino highlights the significant income disparity between senators ($175,000/year) and average federal workers (e.g., TSA agents at $50,000/year) who are directly impacted by government shutdowns. He argues that senators should not receive retroactive pay for periods when they fail to fund the government, emphasizing the principle of 'shared sacrifice' and preventing a permanent disconnect from the people they serve.

Marino states, 'Each of us in this chamber make $175,000 a year. That's not what the average American makes... I can't imagine having a job in which for the third time in six months, you have to explain to your wife or husband or kids, I didn't get a paycheck today.' He later adds, 'I don't think we should get paid retroactively. I think we should just say, 'Hey, look, you didn't do your fundamental duty, which is to fund the government.'

A contentious exchange occurred regarding Senate rules, specifically whether a senator needs to be formally recognized by the chair to object to a unanimous consent request. The presiding officer ruled that a senator does not need the floor to object, which was met with strong disbelief and repeated challenges by senators who argued it violated bedrock Senate procedures and the majority leader's control of the floor.

After an objection, a senator asks, 'Is it appropriate for someone not to be recognized to just say I object and run out?' The chair responds, 'The senator does not need the floor to object.' This ruling is then repeatedly questioned.

The 'Save America Act' proposes several measures to enhance election integrity: requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote (with an affidavit alternative), mandating photo ID for casting ballots, standardizing acceptable citizenship documents, and implementing ongoing voter roll maintenance using federal databases. Proponents argue these are common-sense safeguards supported by the majority of Americans.

Senator McCormick details the bill: 'First, it requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote... It creates an alternative process for applicants who lack such documentation... It requires photo ID when casting a ballot and it mandates ongoing voter roll maintenance to remove non-citizens.' Senator Cramer notes, 'Over 70% of Americans support this bill.'

Senators cite specific cases of non-citizens illegally voting in federal elections across multiple states (e.g., Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas) as evidence of a systemic problem. They also accuse 'blue states' of 'adamantly, defiantly refusing' to share voter data with the federal SAVE database, inferring a deliberate obstruction to prevent the detection and removal of non-citizen voters, especially in states that allow non-citizen voting in local elections.

Senator Lee states, 'In a handful of those states... have legalized non-citizen voting within their states within some local elections.' He later asks, 'Why would these blue states... refuse so consistently, so defiantly to share that information?' Senator McCormick mentions 'an illegal immigrant named Mahadi Sako was recently indicted for having illegally voted in seven different federal elections.'

Senators emphasize the severe impact of the DHS shutdown on hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including TSA agents, FEMA, and Coast Guard personnel, who are working without pay. They accuse Democrats of intentionally prolonging the shutdown to gain leverage for 'amnesty' and to defund ICE, despite the clear human and national security consequences.

Senator Scott highlights Ambria Britt's story of needing to pay a stranger to push her wheelchair through chaotic airport lines due to staffing shortages. He states, 'Democrats are holding out for... amnesty... using the paychecks of TSA workers... as leverage to open a conversation about amnesty.' Senator Cramer notes, 'Since the start of the fiscal year 2026, Customs and Border Protection has made almost 4,000 encounters with individuals at US ports of entry who are in some way tied to the terrorist watch list.'

A point of contention is a Democratic proposal to ban ICE agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations and require visible identification. Republicans argue this exposes agents to increased danger from anti-ICE activists who track and target them, citing a 1000% increase in assaults and 8000% increase in death threats against officers and their families. They propose body cameras as a safer alternative for accountability.

Senator Scott details, 'ICE has reported a 1,000% increase... in assaults on officers... and an 8,000% increase in death threats against officers and their families.' He argues, 'The mass ban would enable not accountability exposure and for people who are already doing their jobs under impossible condition that additional threat is not a policy debate is a danger to their life.'