Barrasso Praises the SAVE America Act

"The SAVE America Act protects the vote of every single American citizen. What it says is simple. If you want to vote in the United States of America, you need to be a citizen of the United States of America. You need to show ID at the polls to vote. This is common sense."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today delivered remarks ahead of a key vote to begin debate on the SAVE America Act. Senator Barrasso shared why the SAVE America Act is necessary to protect election integrity and ensure that only American citizens vote in elections.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso's remarks.

Sen. Barrasso's remarks:

"I support the SAVE America Act. I believe that only American citizens should be allowed to vote in American elections. I believe you should be required to present a photo ID in order to be able to vote. Free and fair elections are the foundation of self-government. Without strong protections, that foundation crumbles.

"The American people are clear. They believe American elections should be decided by American citizens - not illegal immigrants. When illegal immigrants vote, the voice of American citizens is undermined.

"The fact is, Joe Biden's open border policies undermined confidence in our elections. Under Joe Biden and the Democrats, 10 million illegal immigrants entered our country. Democrats want to permit illegal immigrants to decide our elections. Democrats are once again prioritizing illegal immigrants over the American people.

"Many far-left, Sanctuary States already make it easier for illegal immigrants to vote. In 19 states and Washington, D.C, illegal immigrants can get a driver's license with no proof of citizenship needed. In California, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., non-citizens can vote in local elections. It is a felony for illegal immigrants to vote in federal elections. Yet we know it is happening.

"Last week, the Department of Homeland Security arrested a criminal illegal immigrant from Africa. This individual entered our country illegally in 1998. He was ordered to be deported in 2002. He first registered to vote in 2005. He has been voting in federal elections since 2008. Most recently, this illegal immigrant voted in the 2024 election. He voted in the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is a swing state. It was won by tight margins in both the presidential and the Senate races. This should never happen in the United States of America.

"The SAVE America Act protects the vote of every single American citizen. What it says is simple. If you want to vote in the United States of America, you need to be a citizen of the United States of America. You need to show ID at the polls to vote. This is common sense.

"Americans show ID every single day. If you want to buy a beer, you need to show photo ID. If you want to board an airplane, you need to show photo ID. I have people in the gallery from Wyoming. Students from Burlington and teachers, optometrists from around the state of Wyoming. They're all flying back to Wyoming. Every one of them will have to show a photo ID to get on the plane. If you want to cash a check, you need to show photo ID. Voting should be no different. Photo IDs protect against voter fraud and prevents illegal immigrants from voting. More importantly, it tells each American citizen that their vote counts.

"American voters in 36 states already show an ID to vote in elections. In my home state of Wyoming, we have voter ID laws. And getting your voter ID is free. The SAVE America Act builds on current, common-sense law. It makes it easy to vote and hard to cheat in every state across the country.

"Why do Democrats in this chamber oppose showing an ID to vote? The Minority Leader is opposed because - in his words - it 'allows ICE to kick tens of millions of people off the voter rolls.' That's who Democrats are for - illegal immigrants, not American citizens. The top Democrat in the Senate admitted millions of illegal immigrants are on our voter rolls. If that's true, the problem is even worse than Americans feared.

"Senator Schumer accused this bill of being 'Jim Crow 2.0.' That's fearmongering, and he knows it. One of our Democrat colleagues from Georgia

requires attendees to show a photo ID to get into his campaign rallies. Why do Democrats support showing a photo ID to attend a political rally and oppose it to vote in an election? What's clear to all of us is that Democrats oppose elections that limit participation to American citizens. Recall, Democrats said the same thing after the state of Georgia enacted voter ID laws in 2021.What were the results? More people voted, not fewer. Turnout hit record highs. And lines moved faster than ever before. Democrats' voter suppression lies has been thoroughly debunked.

"Voter ID and proof of citizenship are safeguards for our elections, not restrictions. The SAVE America Act is how we make elections safe, secure, and a true reflection of the will of American citizens. Every American should desire that American elections are to be decided by American citizens. Every member of the Senate should support the SAVE America Act. By opposing this bill, Democrats are once again putting illegal immigrants ahead of American voters."

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