MajorHighly contested

Senate Continues Contentious Debate on SAVE America Act, Passes Bill Ending Special TSA Treatment for Members of Congress, and Fails to Fund DHS Amid Shutdown

SenateMar 19, 2026

The Senate continued its extensive and contentious debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill proposing strict new requirements for voter registration and identification. Multiple unanimous consent requests to provide short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been in a shutdown for 34 days, were made by both parties but ultimately blocked. Amidst this, the Senate unanimously passed the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, eliminating preferential TSA screening for Members of Congress. Senators also discussed the ongoing war in Iran, expressing concerns over escalating costs and potential troop deployments.

This chamber-day highlights deep partisan divisions over fundamental issues of election integrity and government funding. The prolonged debate on the SAVE America Act underscores the high stakes involved in federal election laws, while the ongoing DHS shutdown continues to impact national security operations and federal employees. The passage of the bill ending special congressional privileges at airports represents a symbolic step towards accountability during government impasses.

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act

S. 1383 / H.R. 7147

Question before the chamber

The Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 7147, with a pending substitute amendment (No. 4420) to S. 1383, which contains the provisions of the SAVE America Act. The debate centered on the merits and implications of this Act.

The case for

Proponents, including Senators Thune, Barrasso, Blackburn, Cornyn, Lee, Schmitt, and Hyde-Smith, argued that the SAVE America Act is a common-sense measure to protect the integrity of federal elections. They asserted that it is vital to ensure only U.S. citizens vote and that requiring photo identification at the polls is a widely supported practice. They highlighted the vulnerability of current systems where non-citizens can obtain driver's licenses and register to vote, and emphasized that the bill provides multiple, accessible methods for citizens to prove their eligibility, including affidavits, without incurring costs. Senator Schmitt also defended provisions within the substitute amendment related to protecting women's sports and prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, framing these as defending fundamental truths and the innocence of children.

The case against

Opponents, including Senators Durbin, Sanders, Padilla, Rosen, Slotkin, Bennet, Hirono, and Blunt Rochester, characterized the SAVE America Act as a voter suppression bill. They argued that non-citizen voting is statistically negligible, citing studies from the Heritage Foundation and individual states. They contended that the bill's requirements for in-person proof of citizenship (such as passports or original birth certificates) and restrictions on mail-in voting would create significant, unfunded burdens for millions of eligible American citizens, particularly women, seniors, military families, and rural residents, effectively acting as a modern-day poll tax. They also criticized the use of the DHS SAVE database for voter roll verification as unreliable and prone to erroneously flagging eligible voters for removal. They accused the President and Republicans of attempting to rig elections to maintain power.

Disposition

Debate continued on the motion to concur in the House message with a substitute amendment. · other

No final disposition on the bill or the main substitute amendment was reached.

Amendments

To protect women and girls in athletics. (Mr. Tuberville/Mrs. Blackburn) — Cloture motion filed
To insert a provision stating that the requirements of the Act relating to documentary proof of United States citizenship shall not apply with respect to an individual born before December 31, 1960. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision stating that the requirements of the Act relating to documentary proof of United States citizenship shall not apply with respect to a State which can demonstrate that incidents of noncitizen voting in elections for Federal office are less than 0.05 percent. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision requiring the Election Assistance Commission to make grants to States to provide voter registration services to communities not connected by road to a State election office. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To strike the subtitle of title I related to absentee voting. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision stating that the requirements of the Act relating to photo identification shall only apply to individuals born after December 31, 1960. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision stating that the requirements of the Act relating to photo identification shall only apply to individuals who registered to vote after the date of the enactment of the section. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision authorizing appropriations for reimbursing States for carrying out the Act's provisions. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision setting the effective date of the Act to 4 years after enactment, with specific applications for voter registration, photo identification, and absentee voting. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision requiring 'knowing' before 'act' and 'knowingly' before 'providing' in certain sections related to penalties. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert 'including an Enhanced Tribal Citizenship ID Card' after 'period' on page 3, line 22. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To strike 'that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date' from the photo ID requirements. (Ms. Murkowski) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert findings that the Election Fraud Database by the Heritage Foundation documents fewer than 70 verified cases of noncitizens voting over a 40-year period, representing a statistically negligible proportion of votes. (Ms. Hirono) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert findings that, according to the Cato Institute, investigations into election integrity have found that voting by noncitizens in U.S. elections is virtually nonexistent. (Ms. Hirono) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert findings that Joseph R. Biden, Jr. received a majority of votes in the 2020 presidential election, was duly elected, and courts, state election officials, and the Department of Justice found no evidence of fraud sufficient to affect the outcome. (Ms. Hirono) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision prohibiting Federal payments to terminate electric power projects without prior authorization from Congress. (Ms. Hirono) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision maintaining grants and reversing grant terminations for low-cost, clean energy projects. (Ms. Hirono) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision requiring documentary proof of United States citizenship or status as an alien for firearm purchases. (Mr. Coons) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision allowing applicants living at least 50 miles from the nearest passport acceptance facility to present documentary proof of United States citizenship by mail or online. (Mr. Coons) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision exempting certain persons from passport fees if applying or renewing a passport to present documentary proof of United States citizenship for voter registration. (Mr. Coons) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'Fraudulent Artificial Intelligence Regulations (FAIR) Elections Act of 2026', prohibiting false AI-generated election media and restricting voter roll removals using unverified databases. (Mr. Merkley) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'End Crypto Corruption Act of 2026', prohibiting certain financial transactions by covered government officials and establishing civil and criminal penalties. (Mr. Merkley) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'Freedom to Vote by Mail Act', promoting uniform availability of absentee voting, establishing due process requirements for signature verification, and improving election mail and delivery. (Mr. Merkley) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act', repealing reconciliation health provisions and permanently extending enhanced tax credits. (Mr. Wyden (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Reed, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Durbin)) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with a provision prohibiting certain energy exports to the People's Republic of China. (Mr. Merkley) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'Keeping Obstetrics Local Act', enhancing financial support for rural and safety net hospitals providing obstetric services, expanding maternal health care coverage, and investing in the maternal health care workforce. (Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Van Hollen)) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision regarding the ability to initiate grand jury proceedings and seek subpoenas, arrest warrants, or search warrants involving elections, requiring such actions to be requested or initiated by a Senate-confirmed United States attorney. (Mr. Blumenthal) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision exempting from certain duties imports from member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Mr. Kaine) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision exempting baby and infant-related products from certain duties. (Mr. Kaine) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision exempting coffee, tea, cocoa, and similar items from certain duties. (Mr. Kaine) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision exempting fertilizers from certain duties. (Mr. Kaine) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision stating that the Act's provisions and amendments shall not apply before the date on which all States have submitted a report describing specific reasonable accommodations for disabled voters. (Mr. Kim) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision establishing minimum wage and overtime for certain caregivers. (Mr. Kim (for himself and Mrs. Murray)) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision protecting pregnant and postpartum voters by delaying the application of the Act's provisions until certain certifications regarding their impact are submitted to Congress. (Ms. Blunt Rochester) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision transferring unobligated balances from certain appropriations to the Small Business Administration to assist small businesses impacted by federal tariffs. (Mr. Welch) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision transferring unobligated balances from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appropriations to the Secretary of the Treasury to pay interest on illegally imposed duties. (Mr. Welch) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision transferring unobligated balances from certain appropriations to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development for disaster recovery funding. (Mr. Welch) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision transferring unobligated balances from certain appropriations to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for major disaster relief assistance. (Mr. Welch) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision modifying the treatment of orphan drugs under the Medicare drug price negotiation program. (Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Van Hollen)) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision repealing changes to Medicaid cost sharing requirements and changes to the exclusion for orphan drugs under the drug price negotiation program. (Mr. Welch) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision amending loan limits under the Higher Education Act of 1965. (Mr. Markey) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision maintaining funding for certain education programs. (Mr. Markey) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision establishing a statutory right to obtain contraceptives and to voluntarily engage in contraception, free from coercion. (Mr. Markey) — Ordered to lie on the table
To replace the entire bill with the 'Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act', establishing nurse staffing requirements and permanent funding for survey and certification programs for nursing homes. (Mr. Kim (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Blumenthal)) — Ordered to lie on the table
To insert a provision requiring the Department of Homeland Security or any other Federal agency to obtain agreement from appropriate local government officials and the Governor of the State before initiating the construction, acquisition, renovation, or operation of a new ICE processing site or detention center. (Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Kelly)) — Ordered to lie on the table

civil libertieselectionsinformation accesssocial equity

Who is affected

American citizens: Face potential new hurdles to register and vote, particularly those without easy access to specific documents or living in rural areas, as well as those whose names have changed.
State election officials: Would be required to implement new, unfunded mandates for voter registration and ID, potentially causing chaos and administrative burdens.
Transgender individuals and women athletes: Targeted by specific provisions within the substitute amendment that aim to restrict their participation in sports.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations

H.R. 4553 / S. 4127

Question before the chamber

Multiple unanimous consent requests were made to provide either partial or full short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amidst an ongoing shutdown.

The case for

Proponents, including Senators Moreno, Blackburn, Capito, and Cornyn, argued for the immediate funding of DHS to ensure national security and to alleviate the financial burden on approximately 120,000 DHS employees, including TSA agents, who are working without pay. They emphasized the critical roles of agencies like the Coast Guard, FEMA, and Homeland Security Investigations in protecting the nation and responding to emergencies, accusing Democrats of using these essential services as pawns in a political dispute over ICE policy.

The case against

Opponents, including Senators Slotkin and Schatz, objected to full DHS funding without significant reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They cited concerns about ICE's conduct, including alleged violence, lack of accountability, and actions that contradict American values, such as targeting individuals based on appearance. They proposed funding other critical DHS components like TSA, Border Patrol, and FEMA, while continuing negotiations on ICE reforms, arguing that a deal on ICE is not imminent and essential services should not be held hostage.

Disposition

All unanimous consent requests to fund DHS (partially or fully) were objected to. · other

The Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded, and the shutdown continues.

national securityeconomic impactcivil libertiesgovernment operations

Who is affected

DHS employees (TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, ICE, etc.): Are working without pay, leading to significant financial distress for their families and potentially impacting morale and retention across critical national security agencies.
American public: Faces potential risks to national security, disruptions to air travel (longer security lines), and reduced readiness for disaster response due to the lapse in appropriations.
Illegal immigrants and criminal aliens: The debate over ICE funding directly impacts the agency's ability to enforce immigration laws, investigate human trafficking, and combat drug smuggling.

End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026

S. 4123

Question before the chamber

Passage of S. 4123, a bill to prohibit preferential screening for Members of Congress at airports.

The case for

Senator Cornyn argued that Members of Congress should not receive special privileges, such as bypassing TSA security lines, especially when federal employees like TSA agents are working without pay during a government shutdown. He stated that ending these courtesy escorts would restore public trust and potentially motivate Congress to resolve funding impasses more quickly by subjecting members to the same experiences as their constituents.

The case against

No opposition was aired in the Record.

Disposition

Passed, as amended. · unanimous consent

The bill passed, eliminating preferential TSA screening for Members of Congress.

Amendments

To amend the definition of 'Trusted Traveler Program' and clarify that Members of Congress 'shall' not be exempt from Federal passenger and baggage screening. (Mr. Cornyn) — Agreed to, without objection

government operationspublic trust

Who is affected

Members of Congress: Will no longer receive expedited TSA screening, aligning their travel experience with that of the general public.
American public: May perceive increased fairness and accountability from Congress, potentially contributing to a restoration of public trust in government institutions.
TSA agents: The measure was passed in solidarity with TSA agents working without pay, potentially boosting morale.

Continued Contentious Debate on SAVE America Act

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The Senate spent a significant portion of the day debating the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Proponents argued it is a common-sense measure to ensure election integrity by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo ID for voting. Opponents vehemently denounced it as a voter suppression bill, citing its potential to disenfranchise millions of eligible citizens, particularly women, seniors, and rural voters, and questioned the evidence of widespread non-citizen voting.

Multiple Attempts to Fund Department of Homeland Security Fail

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Senators made several unanimous consent requests to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for 34 days. Proposals included short-term funding for the entire department (2 or 4 weeks) and a standalone bill to fund only the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All requests were objected to, with Republicans accusing Democrats of holding DHS funding hostage over ICE policy disagreements, and Democrats insisting on ICE reforms before full funding.

End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act Passed Unanimously

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The Senate passed S. 4123, the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, by unanimous consent. This bill prohibits preferential TSA screening for Members of Congress, ensuring they undergo the same security procedures as the general public. The measure was introduced in the context of the ongoing DHS shutdown, during which TSA agents are working without pay.

Concerns Raised Over Escalating Iran War Costs and Strategy

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Senators debated the ongoing war with Iran, with the Democratic leader expressing alarm over a reported Pentagon request for $200 billion to fund the conflict, calling it 'preposterous and unacceptable.' He criticized the administration for lacking a clear plan and for the rising gas prices impacting American families, while Republicans defended the President's actions.

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