President Donald Trump's top election integrity priority, the SAVE America Act, has stalled in the Senate for months, following the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Graham's sudden death has left a void in the party-line process Trump has demanded Republicans take to pass the bill.
Graham was not only a vocal proponent of the SAVE America Act, but also the Senate Budget Committee chair, a position crucial in setting the foundation and guardrails for the process. His expertise and leadership will be missed in the effort to pass the bill.
Trump expressed his disappointment at Graham's passing, saying it was a "big blow" to the SAVE America Act. The bill aims to fund the Pentagon and attach a version of the SAVE America Act to the party-line undertaking.
The bill has faced opposition from a cohort of Senate Republicans who have broken from Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. They have joined forces with Senate Democrats to block the bill, making its passage uncertain.
Sen. Ron Johnson is expected to take over as chair of the Senate Budget Committee, but has not yet been formally tapped for the role. He is getting up to speed with staff and his House colleagues, vowing to "organize the effort so we can succeed."
Johnson has already spoken with his House counterpart, Jodey Arrington, and is studying the House's SAVE America plan from Bryan Steil. However, the fate of the provision hangs in the balance, depending on the Senate rules referee.
The House is in session for two weeks this month, while the Senate will embark on a near month-long sprint. Both chambers will be gone the entirety of August, and return in September to a looming fight over funding the government.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cautioned that the path to passage will be challenging, saying it will be a "bumpy one." The Senate is waiting to see what the House produces, and there is no guarantee that their product will pass muster with Republicans in the upper chamber.
