The House Rules Committee voted 8-4 along party lines Monday to advance Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to bundle the SAVE America Act with the National Defense Authorization Act, sending both measures to the full House floor.
Johnson's strategy merges two contentious bills into a single package. The NDAA is a must-pass annual defense bill that typically enjoys bipartisan support. The SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed voting restrictions measure, would require proof of citizenship for voter registration at the federal level.
By combining them, Johnson forces Democrats into a difficult choice. Blocking the package means opposing defense spending. Passing it means accepting new voting restrictions that Democrats argue would suppress voter participation and exceed federal authority over elections, which states traditionally control.
The Rules Committee's party-line vote reflects the political divisions over voting requirements. Republicans contend the SAVE Act closes security gaps in the election system. Democrats counter that citizenship verification already exists and the bill creates unnecessary barriers to eligible voters.
This legislative tactic follows a pattern Johnson has employed to advance controversial measures by tying them to bills that command broader support. The strategy tests whether Democrats will accept policies they oppose to pass defense legislation their own members support.
The full House vote on the merged bill remains pending. Defense hawks in both parties generally favor quick passage of the NDAA to fund military operations and equipment. But Democratic resistance to the SAVE Act could complicate floor consideration and potentially delay the defense measure.
The timing matters. Congress faces end-of-year deadlines for spending bills and other legislation. Johnson's maneuver pressures Democrats to either compromise on voting rules or risk stalling the defense authorization.