The US House of Representatives passed a state department spending bill on Wednesday that is tied to the Save America Act, a measure aimed at banning mail-in ballots and enforcing strict voter identification requirements.
The combined legislative package was approved by a 217-209 vote, following pressure from Donald Trump to implement federal voting restrictions before upcoming elections.
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The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority and have consistently opposed the measure.
Opponents argue the restrictions could disenfranchise eligible voters, while supporters claim they prevent non-citizen voting.
“I’ll say it as many times as it takes: the [Save America] Act is dead on arrival here in the Senate,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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The expected Senate block could create friction between chambers and potentially threaten a government shutdown later this year if Republicans continue tying voting restrictions to essential agency appropriations.
Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna warned that if Senate Republican leader John Thune strips the voting measure out, “that will be on him and the entire country should be watching what he does.”
“His state party should censure him and/or he should be primaried if he wants to betray his constituents in this manner.
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That is the nature of politics,” Luna added.
