(The Center Square) – Multiple congressmen from Georgia were quick to share their support for the SAVE Act after the Biden administration on Monday publicly came out in opposition to the legislation.
The U.S. House of Representatives bill, which requires states to mandate proof of citizenship to vote, was first sponsored in May by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.
A statement from the Office of Management and Budget, a part of the Executive Branch, “strongly opposes HR8281” as it would do “nothing to safeguard our elections.”
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said on social media that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will help prevent people who are living in or entered the country illegally from voting.
“NON-citizens illegal aliens ARE REGISTERED to vote in our elections and they are caught on video saying it,” she posted. “Congress must pass the SAVE Act to protect our elections from NON-citizens voting. And Speaker Johnson should tie it to government funding.”
Rep. Andrew Clyde, one of 104 Republican cosponsors of the bill, said Biden administration policies are at fault.
“The blame for the border crisis lies squarely with both President Biden and Border Czar Kamala Harris. H.R,” he said on social media. “Yet both have purposely turned a blind eye to this horrific invasion and refuse to support citizen only voting.”
Clyde's reference to the vice president stems from three years ago when Biden took office. In a March 24, 2021, announcement, Biden said of Harris, "I’ve asked her, the VP, today – because she’s the most qualified person to do it – to lead our efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle and the countries that help – are going to need help in stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border."
Since January 2021, an estimated 12 million people have entered the country illegally, coming from more than 150 countries. Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, have acknowledged they can’t locate millions of them, The Center Square has previously reported.
In another post, Clyde voiced the opinion that “if you’re not an American citizen, then you shouldn’t vote in American elections.”
This position is widely held by the rest of the GOP, making a party-line vote likely when the legislation is voted on, which could be as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Clyde also shared a statement from Roy, who has been outspoken in favor of the SAVE Act since the administration shared its opposition.
Roy wrote on social media, “81% of Americans want ID verification to vote. It’s pretty straightforward. Democrats are assulating American Citizenship on a daily basis - elections, open borders, fiscal health, welfare to noncitizens. It’s time to stand up for Americans and pass the SAVE Act.”
While Democrats are being encouraged to vote against the legislation, Rep. Mike Collins shared that he believes Georgia voters support it.
“My district wants this legislation, and I'm proud to support it,” he said in a statement on social media.
Even if the bill passes the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans are in the majority, it is unlikely to pass the Senate, with its 46 Democrats and four Democrat-leaning independents.
