WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a race against the clock for House Republican leaders as they try to advance a major spending package for the Pentagon, farmers and election security.
In total, the plan includes $73 billion for defense and national intelligence, $12 billion for agriculture and $10 billion for election initiatives.
But the biggest battle may not be over defense. Republicans are using the spending plan to make another push for stricter federal election laws.
The plan, dubbed “Reconciliation 3.0,” is facing a critical test on Capitol Hill. For many conservatives, the biggest priority isn’t the $73 billion in new funding for the Pentagon — it’s election security.
“Only American citizens should vote in American elections. Voter ID should apply in federal elections,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, in June.
The proposal includes $10 billion for Trump-backed election integrity initiatives and provisions of the SAVE America Act.
“We’ve got to stick together and accomplish one – at least one – very big thing for the American people,” Vice President JD Vance said on Capitol Hill Wednesday while meeting with House Republicans to build support for the Trump-backed proof of citizenship and voter ID bill.
“The president’s priority, the White House’s priority, the entire Trump administration’s priority is to actually get the SAVE America Act passed,” Vance said.
The House has already passed the voter ID legislation on its own.
“We’ve supported voter ID on a lot of different occasions,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.
But SAVE has stalled in the Senate because it lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster. Unlike most legislation, a reconciliation bill can pass the Senate with a simple majority, allowing the majority party to bypass minority opposition.
If the new spending package survives the House, it could be the best chance for Republicans to enact voter ID.
“We’ll have to wait and see how that balances out,” Kelly said. “I would like to see it take place right away.”
“We will fight like hell to make sure Trump can’t silence voters,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The package is not only drawing fire from Democrats, but also from conservative hard-liners who are angered over a lack of spending cuts to offset the plan’s $95 billion price tag.
The push to advance the plan comes just ahead of an Oval Office address on election integrity by President Trump.
“Really big news,” Trump said. “It doesn’t get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don’t have a country. We’ll be discussing other things, too.”
“Trump may control the microphone tonight, but he will not control the verdict in November,” Schumer said.
The president is scheduled to address the nation Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.
