The SAVE America Act Clears the House of Representatives; Which Way, Republican Senate? – RedState
As RedState reported, on Wednesday the House of Representatives voted to move the SAVE America Act past its final procedural hurdle to reach the House floor for a full vote. That same evening, the House passed the SAVE Act by a vote of 218 to 213.
🇺🇸⚡️ The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act), requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, as well as a nationwide photo ID to vote.
The bill… pic.twitter.com/D0gD34sOLD
– Vitamvivere (@Vitamvivere) February 12, 2026
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act), requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, as well as a nationwide photo ID to vote.
The bill passed by a close, mostly party-line vote of 218-213, with all Republicans in favor and only one Democrat (Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas) joining them. It now heads to the Senate, where it faces significant obstacles, including a likely Democratic filibuster.
The House passed the bill, which combined two bills, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill received little support from House Democrats, with Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar the only Democrat to join Republicans in passing the legislation.
“It’s just common sense,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters about the bill. “Americans need an ID to drive, to open a bank account, to buy cold medicine, to apply for government assistance. So why should voting be any different from that?”
Rep. Thomas Massie’s (KY-04) vote against a rule in the final procedural vote, but his “YES” vote to pass the SAVE America Act out of the House still draws negative looks.
It’s misleading. When every Republican votes one way and every Democrat votes the other way, and you (as a Republican) vote with the Democrats, you MIGHT be able to explain it IF IT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE. But Massie does this over and over again. The most logical… pic.twitter.com/r9fum8B5YK
– Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) February 11, 2026
It’s misleading. When every Republican votes one way and every Democrat votes the other way, and you (as a Republican) vote with the Democrats, you MIGHT be able to explain it IF IT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE. But Massie does this over and over again.
The most logical explanation is that he is on a kamikaze mission to settle personal scores with Trump. And Democrats love it.
Help from Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) to consolidate the Republicans’ slim majority cannot be ruled out. If Massie had been as dynamic as usual, Cuellar would have been an even more essential buffer to pass the law. Ignoring misinformation and noise from Democratic detractors, Cuellar explained his “why” in voting with the Republicans.
I support the SAVE America Act because I believe in a fundamental principle: American citizens should decide America’s elections. This principle strengthens our democracy and protects the value of every vote. It’s the same secure but practical approach that Texas always uses – strict photo ID standards with real fallback options – and it’s a key reason why Texas has some of the strictest election security laws in the country.
My statement on the House’s passage of the SAVE America Act.⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QIdGXaTxV1
– Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) February 12, 2026
Cuellar concludes:
Ultimately, election security and voter access go hand in hand. When Americans trust the system, our democracy strengthens. This is why I voted yes.
Learn more: SAVE Act clears final procedural hurdle and heads to House for vote
Why are Democrats trying to protect illegal immigrants at polling stations? Republican senator demands answers
The bill now moves to the Senate, and the White House and others are pressuring Senate Republicans not only to have a full vote, but also to pass the SAVE America Act and send it to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
The SAVE America Act has PASSED the House and is now headed to the Senate. ✅
One step closer to SECURING American elections through common sense reforms: proof of citizenship to register and ID to vote. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OAQPzfYCWU
– The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2026
Of course, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is doing his usual thing, threatening to have the bill “DOA” in the Senate. The Republican majority is also showing cracks. The obstructionist team of Senator Mitch McConnell (KY), Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Senator Susan Collins (ME) have refused to join the bill’s co-sponsors and could put even more obstacles in the way.
On Tuesday, Murkowski voiced her opposition on
When Democrats tried to advance sweeping election reform legislation in 2021, Republicans unanimously opposed it because it would have federalized elections, something we have long opposed. Now I see proposals like the SAVE Act and MEGA that could actually…
– Senator Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) February 10, 2026
Murkowski is a hypocrite. Murkowski was the only Republican senator to vote “YES” to end cloture and advance the 2021 bill for a full vote in the Senate. She even gave a speech on the Senate floor in support of moving the 2021 bill forward.
“I want us to continue to reduce the barriers that prevent Americans from voting,” she said in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, ahead of the procedural vote, “whether it’s geographic, whether it’s logistical — we certainly know that in Alaska — whether it’s partisan or whatever.”
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of democracy and American identity, Murkowski said.
It seems that Lisa Murkowski of 2021 and Lisa Murkowski of 2026 need to meet and come to a consensus.
Dive Deeper: Murkowski Madness: Opposing the SAVE Act Undermines Election Security
New: Schumer declares GOP voter ID bill ‘dead on arrival’ as Jim Crow returns
In what could signal a positive change, on Thursday Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) officially signed on as a co-sponsor of the SAVE America Act.
Majority in the Senate @LeaderJohnThune now co-sponsors the SAVE America Act.
We will win. 🇺🇸
-Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 12, 2026
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) recorded this X-rated video in support of eliminating a particular form of filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act. Cruz said, in part: “We should use every procedural tool at our disposal to defeat the Democratic filibuster and, in particular, we should neutralize the so-called ‘zombie filibuster.’
Fascinating stuff. In which direction, Republican Senate?
Tonight, the House passed the SAVE America Act.
It is now the Senate’s turn and we should pass it immediately. pic.twitter.com/yB9ds6DwVA
– Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 12, 2026
Editor’s note: Republicans are fighting for election integrity by requiring proper identification to vote.
Help us continue to explain why Democrats oppose such obvious measures by joining RedState VIP and using the promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
