A faction of conservative Senate Republicans, led by Sen.
Mike Lee of Utah, is urging Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the August recess until the SAVE America Act becomes law.
The push comes as the voting reform package remains stalled in the upper chamber, lacking the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Lawmakers Demand Action
Sen.
Mike Lee issued a public demand to force a vote on staying in Washington throughout August to consider the legislation.
“I object to any effort to put the Senate into recess in August — at least until such time as the Senate has passed the SAVE America Act,” Lee said.
Lee argued that passing the voting package takes precedence over the planned five-week break.
“The Senate doesn't need a summer vacation as much as the country needs the SAVE America Act. Let's cancel recess,” he added.
Multiple conservative lawmakers backed the demand, emphasizing the need to secure voting rules before the 2026 midterm elections.
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida stated, “I stand with @basedmikelee.
I will vote to stay in session unless we have passed the SAVE America Act. The American people expect us to deliver.
They deserve secure elections.”
Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida, despite facing a reelection bid, voiced support for remaining in Washington.
“I didn't come to the United States Senate because I needed something to do.
I'm serving because there are things we need to get done for the American People.
The Senate needs to stay in session until we can get the SAVE America Act to the floor and passed,” Moody said.
Sen. Jim Banks noted that constituents expect Congress to pass election security measures without delay.
“I'm all for it. We don't need a recess.
Let's pass the Save America Act. It's more important than taking a break, taking a recess,” Banks said.
Banks added that he heard direct support while visiting Indiana.
“I'm back in Indiana for the weekend, I head back to Washington tomorrow.
I've heard from people everywhere I go, from the diner this morning to the grocery store, 'Pass the SAVE America Act.'
We have to get it done,” he said.
Procedural Hurdles Remain
Despite conservative momentum, Majority Leader John Thune and other key Republicans noted the mathematical challenges, as the bill requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and lacks Democratic support.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin indicated that drafting language for reconciliation falls under the Senate Budget Committee.
“That's my understanding — it actually falls to budget,” Johnson said.
Johnson noted that discussions regarding party strategy remain ongoing.
“So, again… this is still really early in the process, so I don't have all the answers by a long stretch.
Plus, we've got to find out what the conference wants to do, and what Leader John Thune wants to do,” he said.
Thune emphasized that the current legislation does not meet the strict Byrd Rule required for budget reconciliation, which allows a simple 50-vote threshold.
“Very carefully structured based upon incentive, mostly grant money,” Thune said.
Thune acknowledged that passing the bill via procedural shortcuts remains unlikely without major structural adjustments.
“So, you know, we're gonna do everything we can to move that forward,” he said.
Thune stressed that vote counts remain insufficient.
“But as I told you before, the math on that hasn't changed yet.
It's still likely to be a 60-vote exercise, even if it's done with a budget resolution,” he said.
President Donald Trump posted on social media, calling on Senate Republicans to use budget resolution proceedings to pass key policy items before the recess.
“As much of the SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible,” Trump said.
Trump stated that Republican voters expect Congress to deliver on key legislative promises.
“Our voters will be extremely happy — And even impressed,” he said.
Lawmakers working on reconciliation options noted that parliamentary clearance remains uncertain.
Sen.
John Kennedy of Louisiana said, “I can't guarantee it, but I consider it to be a credible argument.”
Kennedy emphasized that alternative legislative avenues outside of budget reconciliation would fail.
“And I will try to do that, and I will try to, at the right time, bring my colleagues, and, more importantly, the parliamentarian, along.
But if we don't do it through reconciliation, through the House reconciliation, we won't get it done,” he said.
Kennedy assessed the chance of parliamentary approval as a close call.
“It's at least a 50/50 shot,” he said.
Opposing Republicans warned that pushing major election law changes right before the 2026 midterms creates administrative hurdles and lacks necessary majority support.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the effort “dead.”
“Unless they do the work to get to the 60 votes, they know it's dead, and so all this is theater,” Tillis said.
