On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated that the upper chamber would not be permitted to consider a short-term spending measure that is combined with an election integrity bill.
This set up a conflict with the GOP-led House, which has advocated for reforms to enhance the security of the voting process with respect to noncitizens.
Schumer, in a letter to colleagues, foreshadowed the Senate’s upcoming agenda in the weeks ahead, as lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., after the summer recess.
He also cautioned that a government shutdown could occur this fall if Congress fails to reach a deal for an extension to fund the various federal agencies by the end of September.
“We all know what is at stake: crucial funding for health care, infrastructure, education, food safety, veterans, border security, U.S. competitiveness and more,” Schumer said.
“As I have said before, the only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way. Despite Republican bluster, that is how we’ve handled every funding bill in the past, and this time should be no exception. We will not let poison pills or Republican extremism put funding for critical programs at risk.” he added.
House GOP leaders disclosed their proposed continuing resolution last week, which would fund the federal government until March 28.
The resolution would be accompanied by the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill that aims to mandate that individuals provide proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections and to encourage states to remove non-citizens from election rolls.
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