‘It’s Not Insurmountable’: John Kennedy Sizes Up What’s Needed To Pass SAVE ACT

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said Monday he believes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act can pass Congress despite potential hurdles.

A group of GOP lawmakers led by Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna demanded that House Republican leaders attach an updated version of the SAVE Act to the appropriations package as a condition for their support. Kennedy — when asked whether the election integrity bill could clear a Republican-controlled House and Senate — said on “The Will Cain Show” that he remains confident, but challenges remain.

“I think that most Republicans would vote for it. I would,” Kennedy said. “Now, you know, we’ve got a few free-range chickens on the Republican side. We may have to gather them up. The question will be which, if any, Democrats would vote for it. I think we’d have to have some work to do there. But it’s not insurmountable.”

The SAVE Act requires states to obtain proof of citizenship before registering individuals to vote in federal elections. The House passed the bill in April 2025 with a 220-208 vote. Only four Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the legislation.

WATCH:

“Public trust in the integrity of our elections is absolutely essential for the legitimacy of our democratic institutions,” said Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee, the bill’s Senate sponsor, when the legislation was reintroduced in January. “A vast majority of our countrymen agree: only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections.”

The bill faces a major challenge in the Senate as Luna said the SAVE Act will likely fail on the Senate floor if considered as a standalone bill given the upper chamber’s 60-vote legislative filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the measure a “poison pill” and added that his caucus would filibuster any legislation that includes it. (RELATED: Trump Signs Executive Order To Require Proof Of Citizenship To Vote)

The debate over the SAVE Act intensified this week as some House Republicans pushed to attach the bill to a government funding package. President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to pass the spending measure without changes, dealing a setback to conservatives who wanted to force a Senate vote on the election integrity measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week he supports the bill and will eventually bring it to the floor once it advances through committee.

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