House GOP ties election security bill to stopgap funding

Lawmakers on Monday returned to the Capitol after a six-week recess and began discussing plans to fund the government. Congress has until Sept. 30 to either pass a federal budget or a stopgap measure to extend the deadline before the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. House Republicans on Friday introduced a bill that would keep the government funded through March 28 and tied it to a proposal meant to protect the integrity of the election by verifying voters’ citizenship. The House Rules Committee was scheduled to meet Monday afternoon to discuss the bill.

What does the voting act entail? Five Democrats joined House Republicans in July to approve the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act. The bill would require voters to show proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a passport when registering to vote. Senate Democrats are expected to push back against the act. White House said in July that the measure would not safeguard elections but would make it harder for Americans to register to vote.

What else is included in the funding bill? The legislation includes a supplemental appropriation of $10 billion to restock the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. It also allows FEMA to access a full year’s worth of appropriations immediately on Oct. 1. The bill does not contain language addressing the Department of Veterans Affairs budget deficit, or the expiring farm bill.

How have Democrats responded to the measure? Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday said that he supports a continuing resolution to keep the government running. In a joint statement with Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., Schumer said the funding proposal backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson was a waste of time and increased the likelihood of a government shutdown.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about lawmakers' debates over budget bills.