Republican Sen. Mike Lee said there has been progress in efforts to advance the SAVE America Act in the Senate. The Utah lawmaker said on Friday that discussions with Senate leadership have produced movement on how the bill could be debated and brought to a vote.
Lee, the lead sponsor of the legislation, said he has been working with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and his staff on potential procedural options. He said those conversations have helped clarify how the measure could reach the Senate floor.
Lee said one option now under consideration is a hybrid version of a talking filibuster. The approach would require senators who oppose the bill to hold the floor and debate it for extended periods of time.
Lee described the latest developments in a video update posted for supporters. He said negotiations with Thune’s office have recently turned a corner.
“Okay, important update on the Save America Act and the effort to get it passed,” Lee said in the video. “Look, I am guardedly optimistic. We’ve turned kind of a corner over the last few days,” Lee said.
Lee said senators had been debating what procedures should be used to move the bill forward. He said those discussions created some uncertainty about how the Senate might handle the legislation.
“There’s been some uncertainty about exactly what procedure we will and will not be using,” Lee said. “In the end, we’ve been working closely with Leader Thune and his staff, and they’ve been great to work with,” Lee said.
Lee said the emerging plan could include a hybrid form of the talking filibuster. He said the precise label matters less than how the procedure would actually function.
“What we’re coming up with is something that I think is best described as a hybrid version of the talking filibuster,” Lee said. “But look, let’s not get mired down in nomenclature. What matters far more than what we call it is what we do with it,” Lee said.
Lee said the proposal would allow the Senate to hold extended debate before any cloture vote is filed. He said the bill should remain on the Senate floor until lawmakers fully address the issue.
“We’re going to bring it to the floor. We’re going to debate it for an extended period of time before filing cloture,” Lee said. “This bill needs to remain on the Senate floor before we file cloture for as long as it takes to get it done,” Lee said.
Lee also praised Thune and his staff for engaging in the discussions. He said their willingness to consider different procedural options has helped move the effort forward.
“The fact that Leader Thune and his office have been willing to work with us on this is a good thing,” Lee said. “They appear open to a variation of that, and that’s encouraging,” Lee said.
Lee said supporters of the bill should continue encouraging Senate leadership to move forward. He said public pressure could help ensure the legislation receives a full debate.
“So let’s keep up the momentum,” Lee said. “Let’s put the bill on the floor and make those who want to filibuster speak, and keep it there as long as possible,” Lee said.
