The Senate Advances the SAVE America Act; New Jersey Lawmakers Oppose Procedural Votes

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to begin floor debate on the SAVE America Act, a voting‑related bill backed by Republican leadership, clearing a key procedural hurdle while leaving the legislation short of the votes required for final passage.

The Senate approved a motion to proceed by a vote of 51–48, allowing debate to begin on the bill. The vote largely followed party lines, with Democrats opposing the motion and Republicans supporting it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska) voted against the motion, and Sen. Thom Tillis (R‑N.C.) did not vote. [yahoo.com], [nbcnews.com], [cnbc.com]

What the SAVE America Act Would Do

The SAVE America Act (S. 1383 / H.R. 7296) proposes several changes to federal election procedures, including:

Requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections
Mandating photo identification for in‑person voting
Requiring most mail‑in voters to include a copy of their photo ID
Directing states to submit voter registration data to federal agencies for citizenship verification

Supporters say the bill strengthens election integrity. Democrats and voting‑rights organizations argue it could restrict access to voting for eligible citizens who lack easy access to required documentation. [yahoo.com], [nbcnews.com], [cnbc.com]

New Jersey Senators Vote Against Advancing Debate

Both of New Jersey’s U.S. senators voted against the motion to proceed:

Sen. Cory Booker (D‑NJ): Nay
Sen. Andy Kim (D‑NJ): Nay

Democrats have indicated they will block efforts to end debate on the bill. Under current Senate rules, invoking cloture and moving to a final vote requires 60 votes, a threshold Republican leadership has acknowledged it does not currently have. [nbcnews.com]

Earlier Senate Vote on Judicial Nomination

Earlier the same day, the Senate voted on cloture for a district court nomination. The Senate agreed to limit debate by a vote of 48–45. Booker and Kim both voted against cloture. The nominee was later confirmed. [dailypress...senate.gov]

House Advances Bipartisan Legislation

While the Senate debated the SAVE America Act, the U.S. House of Representatives passed multiple bipartisan bills on March 17.

The House approved the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2026 by a vote of 320–66. The bill establishes a pilot program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support new markets for invasive blue catfish harvested from the Chesapeake Bay. [robwittman....house.gov], [govtrack.us]

The House also passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act by a vote of 345–41. The legislation reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through 2031. [clerk.house.gov], [sbir.org]

Rep. LaMonica McIver’s Votes

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D‑NJ‑10) voted in favor of both bipartisan measures.

She also voted against a House rules package that would have advanced a bill addressing restrictions on lead ammunition on federal lands and voted against final passage of that measure. [congress.wiki]

What Happens Next

Despite advancing to debate, the SAVE America Act remains unlikely to reach a final vote without bipartisan support. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans do not have the votes needed to invoke cloture and end debate. [nbcnews.com], [cnbc.com]

Debate on the legislation is ongoing.

The Last Call 3/18