Republicans have been pressing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to consider a crucial legislative proposal that would mandate states to verify proof of citizenship for individuals voting in federal elections.
They contend that this bill is essential for maintaining election integrity in November, yet it has not progressed in the Senate thus far.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., who co-chairs the House Election Integrity Caucus, discussed this topic with Fox News Digital during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
She emphasized that election integrity stands as the “premiere issue” for the 2024 election cycle, mentioning that only five Democrats supported the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. The legislation requires states to obtain in-person proof of citizenship for voter registration and mandates the removal of non-citizens from current voter rolls.
“The SAVE Act should be at the forefront of our discussions, especially considering that 198 Democrats backed non-citizen voting in our elections,” Tenney stated. “Nothing undermines our electoral process more than allowing individuals who have not assumed the responsibilities of citizenship to benefit from citizenship rights. It’s vital; one citizen, one vote.”
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has yet to bring the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to a vote. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“It’s imperative to ensure that no one’s vote is diluted, as the right to vote is sacred. It is the most profound expression of our self-governance,” she remarked.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., also criticized Schumer for his inaction regarding the bill in light of over 10 million reported illegal crossings of American borders during the Biden presidency, alongside an estimated 2 million “got-a-ways” who evaded Border Patrol and disappeared into the U.S. interior.
“We’ve consistently urged Chuck Schumer to advance significant Republican legislation during the 118th Congress. Recalling last April, we passed H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act, which aimed to fortify our borders. That would potentially have mitigated the influx of over 10 million undocumented individuals and the more than 2 million known escapes into our nation,” said D’Esposito, a member of the House Administration Committee which oversees the Federal Elections Commission and propelled the SAVE Act for a floor vote.
“Currently, it’s just gathering dust on Chuck Schumer’s desk,” D’Esposito stated. “The SAVE Act speaks for itself. If people are left wondering why the Democrats are permissive of so many illegal entries, it’s indicative of their opposition to the SAVE Act and Schumer’s reluctance to address it in the Senate.”
Democrats are facing pressure following President Biden’s unexpected announcement that he will not pursue a second term and has endorsed Vice President Harris.
As Harris embarks on her campaigning journey and following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent address to Congress, the push for election integrity legislation has seemingly taken a back seat.
“My senator, Sen. Chuck Schumer, ought to take immediate action on this bill,” Tenney urged. “If he genuinely values democracy, the rule of law, and the citizens we represent in New York and across the nation, he should motivate every Democrat to endorse the SAVE Act in the Senate.”
Fox News Digital sought comments from Schumer’s office, but did not receive a response.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., is co-chair of the House Election Integrity Caucus.
(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Schumer, who initially refrained from acting when the charges emerged, urged Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., to resign following his conviction in a federal corruption case. Menendez announced his resignation from the upper chamber, effective August 20. Tenney speculated that this shift in the balance of power might lead to the SAVE Act being voted on after all.
“This could pivot the balance of power in the Senate and perhaps compel Chuck Schumer to acknowledge that some vulnerable Democrats may not want to vote against the SAVE Act,” Tenney remarked.
Biden has committed to veto the proposal should it pass. Tenney asserted that such a move would spell disaster for Democratic elections. “If you undermine the importance of citizens’ votes in a democracy, as the Democrats frequently lament, you risk eroding our governmental system,” she stated.
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In 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14019, touted by the White House as “promoting access to voting.” However, Republicans criticize that the order’s expansive interpretation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 effectively converts federal agencies into voter registration entities.
“This executive order has tasked federal agencies with becoming venues for vote collection,” Tenney stated. “I believe it violates the Hatch Act, compromising the integrity of our elections.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., is seen in the Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Wes Allen, the Alabama Secretary of State and a Republican, has raised concerns regarding how state agencies receiving federal funds are mandated by Biden’s executive order to distribute voter registration information indiscriminately, without verifying citizenship status.
Essentially, Allen told Fox News Digital at the convention that the order “effectively weaponizes and federalizes the entire federal government to serve as voter registration agencies.”
“I do not believe the federal government should have any role in voter registration; that responsibility should remain with the states,” he asserted. “Maintaining accurate voter files is fundamental to election integrity.”
“We’ve reached out to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to request a list of legal non-citizens on file, which we can use to cross-check against our voter records to prevent any oversights,” he explained. “Unfortunately, they have denied us access to that information. However, we will keep pursuing it. Ideally, we hope to access that taxpayer-funded data. It’s only logical that only American citizens should be participating in our elections.”
Allen mentioned that he had the opportunity to discuss the SAVE Act with House Speaker Mike Johnson during the convention.
“The fact that 198 Democratic Congress members would oppose our request for the tools to verify citizenship is incomprehensible. I don’t understand it. I told Speaker Johnson to keep pushing. We need Trump back in the White House and a GOP majority in both the Senate and House,” he conveyed.
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Regarding Schumer, Allen urged the Senate Majority Leader to seriously consider bringing the bill to a vote.
“Only American citizens should be casting votes in our elections,” Allen asserted. “We need the means, as secretaries of state nationwide, to verify citizenship. Grant us that authority and help us ensure the integrity of our voter files.”
