VIDEO: Capito Delivers Speech on the SAVE America Act and DHS Shutdown

To watch Senator Capito's remarks, click here or the image above.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of Senate Republican leadership, delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting the SAVE America Act and safeguards to protect our elections. Senator Capito also called on Senate Democrats to set their disagreements over policy aside and fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Senator Capito's remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Mr. President -

"This week, the Senate officially began debate on a package of commonsense measures that should unite all Americans.

"Americans deserve to have confidence that every vote that is cast and counted comes from an American citizen-and that the system itself is fair, secure, and transparent from start to finish.

"That confidence is not automatic.

"It must be earned, maintained, and reinforced through clear, consistent standards that people understand.

"The bill we are considering on the Senate floor right now is something we should all agree on.

"Specifically, here's what it does:

• Requires all voters show photo ID.

• Requires all voters provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

• And, ends the abuses of the absentee voting system that we have seen in some states.

"In addition to these simple, straightforward policies on voting, the bill has two more commonsense measures:

• Does not allow men in women's sports. I have long championed this issue of such importance to girls in West Virginia and across the nation.

• And, does not allow transgender mutilation surgery for children.

"So, let's discuss the substance of this bill when it comes to elections.

"The SAVE America Act reflects the basic expectation that America's elections need to be safe and secure.

"It does not reinvent the wheel.

"It simply reinforces standards that most Americans already abide by on a daily basis.

"Think about it: in everyday life, we are routinely asked to verify who we are - whether it's to board a plane, start a new job, to drive, and even visit our doctor's office.

"No one views those steps as extraordinary.

"No one sees them as controversial.

"Applying similar standards to our elections is not radical- it is just common sense.

"The SAVE America Act ensures that those who are registered to vote are actually eligible to vote.

"It ensures that the person who shows up to cast a ballot is, in fact, who they say they are.

"These are not extreme ideas.

"They are practical, reasonable steps that align with how we secure other important aspects of our society.

"In fact, more than 80% of Americans support voter ID requirements, including a strong majority of Americans.

"And, the majority of states-including West Virginia-already require some form of ID to vote.

"Now, let me turn to another core principle of this bill, and one that I believe most Americans would consider simply fundamental.

"Only American citizens should be able to vote in federal elections.

"That is not a partisan statement.

"It is a basic premise of what it means to have a sovereign democracy.

"Voting is one of the most important rights we have as citizens.

"And, with that right comes the responsibility to ensure that it is reserved only for those who are legally eligible.

"The SAVE America Act makes that expectation explicit by requiring proof of citizenship at the point of registration.

"Again, this is not complicated.

"It is not controversial.

"It's basic.

"It's about ensuring that the integrity of federal elections is protected at the front end, not just on Election Day.

"This seems like commonsense, because it is. And you might wonder why we would need policy to enforce this, however, in 19 states, individuals who entered our country illegally are able to obtain driver's licenses.

"This ultimately provides them the opportunity to register and vote without proof of citizenship.

"The SAVE America Act closes this illegal voting loophole by requiring photo ID to vote, proof of citizenship to register, and requiring states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.

"The American people do not want illegal aliens to vote. In fact, 62% of Americans support proof of citizenship to register to vote.

"The bill also addresses an issue that has generated a lot of discussion in recent years, which is absentee and mail-in voting.

"Let me be clear: This legislation does not eliminate absentee voting.

"There are legitimate reasons why people vote absentee, whether it's illness, disability, military service, being away from home, or other hardships that prevent someone from voting in person.

"Those voters should absolutely continue to have access to the ballot.

"But, what this bill does is draw a clear line between access and abuse.

"In some states, we've seen practices that go well beyond traditional absentee voting.

"That includes the mass, unsolicited mailing of ballots to individuals who did not request them, or automatically enrolling voters in absentee voting simply because they used it once before.

"Those kinds of policies raise serious concerns about ballot security and ultimately public confidence in the outcome.

"The SAVE America Act puts guardrails in place to prevent those abuses, while still preserving absentee voting for those who truly need it.

"And I'll note, this is not an issue that has created major challenges in West Virginia.

"In the 2024 general election, only 2.9% of West Virginia voters cast mail-in ballots.

"Our system reflects a more traditional, secure approach, and it's one that has helped maintain confidence in our elections.

"That's the balance this bill is trying to strike: protecting access, while ensuring integrity.

"Ultimately, this is about preserving confidence in our democratic process.

"When people trust the system, participation grows, outcomes are respected, and our institutions are strengthened.

"That is something every American-regardless of party-should agree on.

"That's why this effort matters.

"And why these commonsense protections deserve serious consideration.

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"Mr. President-

"I also must address a separate matter that grows more serious with each passing day: the Democrat-led shutdown of DHS.

"Today marks Day 34.

"34 days of political brinkmanship.

"34 days where partisan posturing has taken precedence over the safety and security of the American people.

"Enough is enough.

"Especially now.

"Last week, we saw two terror-related incidents play out in Virginia and Michigan.

"These were not distant threats or hypothetical scenarios. They were real events that underscore the very real dangers we face every day.

"And yet, at this very moment, the department charged with helping prevent, detect, and respond to such threats remains hamstrung by a lapse in funding.

"It is deeply troubling, and frankly unacceptable, that my Democrat colleagues have chosen to let disagreements over policy escalate into a full-scale funding lapse for critical national security operations.

"This is not an abstract debate.

"This has real, immediate consequences.

"Because of this shutdown, vital resources for our airports and TSA are strained.

"In fact, I just met with folks from my local airport this week, and they told me that they are starting to feel the pain from this shutdown, too.

"The men and women who ensure the safety of millions of travelers every day are being asked to do their jobs with uncertainty hanging over their heads.

"FEMA, the Coast Guard, and thousands of federal law enforcement officers are operating during a time when Americans expect and deserve effective emergency response.

"Let's be clear about what is at stake.

"This shutdown weakens America's border security.

"It undermines maritime security.

"It erodes our readiness to respond to emergencies.

"We should not be playing politics with our national security and we should not be gambling with the safety of our citizens.

"The American people expect us to lead.

"They expect us to govern.

"And, they expect us to come together, especially when the security of our homeland is on the line.

"It is imperative that we fund DHS immediately.

"Not tomorrow. Not after another round of partisan negotiations. Now.

"Let us set aside the politics.

"Let us fulfill our most basic responsibility: to protect the American people.

"I urge my colleagues to end this shutdown.

"Restore stability.

"And, put the safety of our nation first.

"Thank you, and I yield the floor."

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