Last week, the US House of Representatives failed to pass a short-term funding package that included the $231 million Secret Service funding proposed by House Republicans. The bill, otherwise known as Continuing Resolution or CR intends to avert a government shutdown while giving Congressional members more time to come up with a long term funding bill for fiscal year 2025.

After holding separate talks with former president Trump in his Mar-a-Lago residence and with President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed last Sunday the revised short-term funding bill. The funding package no longer includes the proposed addition of $231 million Secret Service funding to the SAVE Act. Apparently, Republican lawmakers had wanted to use the inclusion of the SAVE Act funding as leverage in passing the CR.

Still, Speaker Johnson announced that the House will vote to pass the CR this coming Wednesday as doing so will allow the government to stay operational through December of this year. Immediately passing the CR is crucial since lack of funding appropriations will cause offices and agencies to shut down starting October 01 at 12:01 AM. Lawmakers have to take action by providing the fund before Congress goes into a holiday break and to avoid a shutdown before the November 2024 elections.

What Exactly is the SAVE Act and Who Initiated It?

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was introduced by Texas Representative Chip Roy along with 49 other Republican Representatives and was passed by the Lower House on July 10. However, the Act does not include funding provisions that local and state governments can use in implementing the new guidelines. Funding instead will come from security grants available to states and counties appropriated by way of the Help America Vote (HAVE) Act.

The SAVE Act merely amends the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, as a way to incorporate an additional requirement of requiring individuals to present proof of citizenship upon registration. The SAVE Act specifically requires a registering voter to present a valid document, passport or ID indicating an individual’s birthplace.