Chairman Bryan Steil of Wisconsin led the debate on S.1383, known as the SAVE America Act, in the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation centers on two main requirements for federal elections: proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and presentation of voter identification at polling places.
Steil credited Representative Chip Roy and members of the Committee on House Administration for their work on the bill. In his remarks, Steil stated, "Individuals that want to vote in U.S. elections should be U.S. citizens, and we should have a proof of citizenship when individuals register to vote." He added, "The second principle is that individuals, when they vote, should show voter ID."
He addressed concerns about noncitizen voting by pointing out that Washington D.C. currently allows noncitizens to participate in municipal elections under local law. Steil emphasized his stance by saying, "I'm of the view that U.S. elections should be for U.S. citizens only, and that we should be proving that citizenship at the point in time that an individual registers to vote."
Steil also drew comparisons between requirements for everyday transactions and voting procedures: "The American people know that you need to show a photo identification when you board an airplane, you open a bank account, or you buy a six pack of beer." He recounted a personal experience in Wisconsin where he was required to present identification despite being recognized by the store clerk.
He responded to anticipated criticism regarding disenfranchisement and references to historical voter suppression: "They'll use terms like 'Jim Crow 2.0.' I'll remind everyone watching to reflect back on the same language that was used when Georgia instituted election integrity provisions in 2021." Citing surveys from Georgia's recent elections, Steil noted positive experiences across demographic groups: "And the survey found statistically, 0% of blacks had a 'poor' or 'negative' voting experience in the state of Georgia."
He concluded with a call for support: "As we instill election integrity in our system, we will see more people participating because they will have faith in our elections."
The Committee on House Administration oversees federal elections and has jurisdiction over congressional contests nationwide according to its official website. It is responsible for oversight of House operations and Capitol security measures following events such as September 11 and January 6 [source]. The committee also played a key role in passing major election reforms like the Help America Vote Act in 2002 [source].
The SAVE America Act continues ongoing discussions about election laws within Congress’s standing committees focused on administrative matters [source].
