Senate Fails to Advance DHS Funding and VA Reproductive Health Resolution, Debates SAVE America Act

The case for

Senator Thune, as the majority leader, argued that the Senate is on 'day 40 of Democrats' shutdown of Department of Homeland Security' and that DHS employees have been working without pay for over 80 days this fiscal year. He emphasized the negative impact on TSA agents, who are quitting in 'droves,' and the broader disruption to travelers and critical national security functions. He stated that the current bill would fund the Department and urged Democrats to work towards an agreement to reopen DHS this week. Senator Cornyn reiterated the shamefulness of the shutdown, citing long TSA lines and hamstrung ICE operations, and noted that ICE agents are assisting at airports. Senator Barrasso criticized Democrats for moving goalposts and highlighted community efforts to support unpaid TSA employees. Senator Moreno made an emotional appeal to pay the 260,000 affected families retroactively and for the next two weeks, proposing that Senators' pay be withheld as a gesture of shared sacrifice. He also argued for funding all DHS agencies, including Customs and Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations, noting their critical roles in national security and law enforcement.

The case against

Senator Schumer, the minority leader, stated that Democrats sent a 'reasonable, good-faith proposal' containing 'ICE reforms' and accused Republicans of making 'outrageous and bad-faith claim[s]' that Democrats are moving goalposts. He asserted that Democrats have been clear about needing ICE reforms 'from day one' and that Republicans' proposal with 'no reforms is bad faith.' He emphasized the need to pay TSA workers immediately, stating that Democrats have offered to do so ten times while negotiations on ICE continue. Senator Durbin echoed the sentiment, noting that Republicans have voted no ten times on proposals to fund all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol. He argued that the premise of the SAVE America Act, which he linked to the shutdown, is wrong, citing minimal instances of non-citizens voting. Senator Merkley objected to Senator Moreno's proposals, arguing that a 2-week funding extension is insufficient and that TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and Cybersecurity should be funded for the entire fiscal year, while ICE and CBP remain under negotiation due to their 'extraordinarily aggressive' and 'lawless' actions.

The case for

Senator Thune argued that the SAVE America Act addresses the common-sense issues of requiring American citizenship to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot, citing 70-80% public support. He dismissed Democratic claims of voter suppression, noting that photo ID is required for many daily activities and that studies show no significant negative effect on turnout. Senator Cornyn emphasized that the bill aims to build confidence in elections and prevent non-citizens from voting, which he believes 'dilutes your vote and undermines the integrity of the election system.' Senator Barrasso highlighted that 32 states already require photo ID, including states represented by Democratic Senators, questioning why it's acceptable locally but not nationally. Senator Fischer stated that 'only U.S. citizens should be voting in U.S. elections' and that the bill makes it 'easy to vote and hard to cheat' through photo ID and citizenship verification, including an affidavit option for those without documents. Senator Lee argued that the bill is necessary to prevent 'democratic suicidality' by allowing non-citizens to vote, which he characterized as 'facilitating foreign interference in our own elections.'

The case against

Senator Schumer accused Republicans of 'shoving the SAVE Act into reconciliation' and trying to 'jam massive changes to the American election system' through an inappropriate process. He stated that Democrats would fight it 'tooth and nail.' Senator Durbin questioned the premise of widespread illegal alien voting, citing a study that found only 77 such instances over 24 years, and criticized the bill's requirements for passports or birth certificates as potentially costly and burdensome. Senator Welch presented letters from Vermont constituents and town clerks expressing 'serious concerns' that the SAVE Act would create barriers for voters, particularly women, low-income families, and those who have changed their names, and would impose 'unnecessary administrative and infrastructure burden[s]' on election officials. He called the bill a 'voter suppression bill' and a 'death blow' to efforts to enable people to vote.

The case for

Senator Blumenthal argued that the Trump administration's new VA policy, implemented on New Year's Eve, is a 'near-total abortion ban' that 'targets women veterans' and 'robs those veterans of access to essential healthcare,' even in cases of sexual assault or when their health is at risk. He emphasized that women are the fastest-growing demographic in the military and are being 'betrayed' by this policy, which also bans counseling. Senator Hirono called the policy 'dangerous' and 'cruel,' noting that over 450,000 women veterans of reproductive age receiving VA care live in states with abortion bans, leaving them 'out of options.' Senator Shaheen reiterated that the policy is 'extreme' and 'flat-out dangerous,' preventing brave Americans from receiving care under dire circumstances and even basic counseling, particularly for the one in three female veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma.

The case against

No opposition was aired in the Record during the debate on this motion to proceed.

The case for

Senator Padilla argued that the IRS's new rule makes it harder for wind and solar projects to qualify for critical clean energy tax credits, thereby increasing electricity costs for families and hindering the construction of new energy projects. He stated that the rule changes the '5 percent safe harbor' standard, which businesses relied on, leading to fewer and more expensive clean energy projects. Senator Wyden called the rule 'extra bureaucratic redtape' that sabotages wind and solar, the 'cheapest and cleanest ways of getting energy on the grid,' and contributes to rising energy costs. Senator Schumer characterized the rule as 'another front in Donald Trump's war on affordable American energy' and a 'corrupt giveaway to his Big Oil and Big Gas donors,' warning it could raise electricity prices by 10 percent. Senator Cortez Masto emphasized that the rule will make it 'more expensive to build America's clean energy future,' eliminate jobs, and risk power for millions of homes.

The case against

Senator Crapo opposed the resolution, stating that the IRS notice was 'intended to prevent abuse of the forthcoming phasedown of tax credits for wind and solar projects' by requiring 'meaningful steps toward project construction.' He argued that overturning the notice would create 'more uncertainty and unpredictability' and discourage focus on 'more reliable and affordable energy sources.' He also noted that the cost of 'Green New Deal incentives' under the Inflation Reduction Act far exceeded predictions and that Republicans had already reined in these costs while preserving incentives for reliable power sources.