Senate Republicans left Washington on Saturday morning without passing the SAVE America Act, a bill heavily pushed by President Donald Trump and his administration.
The Senate had been working to clear its packed agenda before recess, but despite promises from some party members that they would stay in session until September to pass the voter integrity bill, lawmakers departed as scheduled. The bill's biggest proponents, including Senators Mike Lee and Ron Johnson, expressed confidence that it will be passed eventually.
However, time is running out for the Senate to act on several key bills, including the SAVE America Act, a cryptocurrency regulation bill known as the Clarity Act, and legislation dealing with Name Image and Likeness funding in college sports. The Senate returns in September and will face a tight deadline before leaving again for midterm elections.
The budget reconciliation process, which is crucial for passing the SAVE America Act without Democratic opposition, has also been put on hold. President Trump intervened earlier this week, expressing concerns that the current budget blueprint would fail to pass. Instead of proceeding with a vote, Republicans have opted to work on a new bill through August and September.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that there is an appetite among Republicans to use reconciliation to muscle through defense funding and include elements of the SAVE America Act. However, he noted that this approach has not been popular among all party members, especially heading into midterms.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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