House Republicans have introduced a stopgap spending bill in an attempt to prevent a government shutdown at the end of September. However, the bill’s provision targeting noncitizen voting has faced strong opposition from Democrats.
The proposed legislation, known as the “Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025,” aims to extend federal funding through late March of next year. It also includes a requirement for states to verify U.S. citizenship during the voter registration process. This particular provision has sparked intense debate on Capitol Hill and has raised doubts about the bill’s chances of passing in its current form.
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed the importance of securing the federal election process and ensuring that only American citizens can decide American elections. However, Democrats swiftly condemned the proposal, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray stating that avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship.
This is not the first time such a bill has caused controversy. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy lost his leadership role last year after bringing a watered-down version of a proposed bill to the House floor for a last-minute vote. The draft lacked key provisions pushed for by hardline Republicans, contributing to a vote to remove him from the speakership.
The stopgap measure includes several key provisions. Firstly, it aims to prevent a partial shutdown by maintaining federal funding at current levels until March 28, 2025. This extension would cover essential government services and agencies, including defense, education, and healthcare, giving lawmakers time to negotiate the full-year budget for fiscal year 2025.
The bill also introduces significant changes to voter registration through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. It requires individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. States would be prohibited from processing voter registrations without this documentation. Additionally, the bill mandates the active removal of noncitizens from voter rolls using databases like the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE system.
In addition to voter registration, the bill allocates $10 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enhance the nation’s disaster relief fund. It also sets aside $47 million for extra security during Inauguration Day in January 2025, a period that typically requires significant federal resources.
Overall, the stopgap measure offers temporary funding solutions for various federal agencies based on previous fiscal year allocations. This means that funding is extended for defense projects and agricultural initiatives without initiating new programs or allowing increases in production rates for projects that were not previously funded.
While the bill aims to prevent a government shutdown, its voter fraud provisions have ignited partisan divisions and face opposition from Democrats. The inclusion of the provision requiring proof of U.S. citizenship during the voter registration process has been a particularly contentious point. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with doubts about its chances of passing in its current form.
