Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) reaffirmed his support for the SAVE America Act and called for its passage through another reconciliation bill during a speech on the U.S. Senate floor on Mar. 18.
The SAVE America Act, which Kennedy cosponsors, focuses on voter registration and election integrity. The senator said the legislation is straightforward, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and identification at federal elections. “Mr. President, I would like to talk for a few minutes about the SAVE [America] Act. I’m a cosponsor. I support it unconditionally. The SAVE [America] Act, as you well know, Mr. President, is really pretty simple. It’s about our sanctity of voting in America,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy explained that the act aims to address concerns about trust in American elections following what he described as large numbers of people entering the country illegally under President Biden’s administration. “It’s about trying to get the American people to trust our elections every year in light of the fact that President Biden and his team, with the concurrence of many of my colleagues in this chamber, admitted millions and millions and millions of people into our country illegally,” he said.
He also emphasized Congress’s responsibility to restore public confidence in elections: “It’s meant to say to the American people, ‘Look, we in Congress hear you. We want you to trust our elections.’” Kennedy advocated using reconciliation procedures if necessary: “If this bill is as important as we say it is, we should try it through reconciliation. I haven’t convinced Senator Thune of that. I haven’t convinced all of my colleagues on either side of the aisle, but I plan on continuing to chase them like they stole Thanksgiving and Christmas put together.”
Kennedy holds top Republican positions on subcommittees for energy and water development and economic policy according to his official website. He serves on Senate committees for appropriations, banking, budget and judiciary according to his official website. He has contributed as an adjunct professor and substitute teacher according to his official website, authored books and articles on Constitutional law and Louisiana Products Liability Act according to his official website, served as executive editor of the Virginia Law Review and president of his senior class at Vanderbilt University according to his official website, earned degrees including magna cum laude honors from Vanderbilt University, a law degree from University of Virginia School of Law, and a Bachelor of Civil Law with first class honors from Oxford University according to his official website.
Observers will be watching whether efforts continue within Congress regarding passage strategies for the SAVE America Act.
