作者：查德·佩格拉姆 | 福克斯新闻
发布时间：2026年3月20日 美国东部时间下午1:44
福克斯新闻首席国会记者查德·佩格拉姆在《威尔·凯恩秀》中报道了参议院就《SAVE美国法案》进行辩论的最新进展。
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“我们现在正处于一个独特的时刻，能够解决一个真正根本性的问题，”参议院多数党领袖、南达科他州共和党人约翰·图恩周二表示。
就在一小时后，参议院将开始就《SAVE美国法案》展开辩论。
资深国会农业记者马特·凯伊刚刚问图恩，为什么参议院愿意在这项法案上耗费如此多的时间——尽管显然缺乏通过所需的票数。
（图片说明：2025年9月10日，在美国华盛顿特区国会大厦外的上参议院公园，与会者聆听犹他州共和党参议员迈克·李在“只有公民投票”巴士巡回集会上就通过《SAVE法案》发表讲话。）（肯特·西村/盖蒂图片社）
“参议院的辩论时间是政治领域的‘硬通货’，”凯伊指出，“如果您在这个问题上进行长时间辩论，却占用了宝贵的辩论时间，这对您有什么帮助呢？”
凯伊随后询问，为什么参议院不转而致力于可能的农业法案，甚至是针对伊朗战争的补充支出计划。
凯伊提出的问题切中要害。参议院的辩论时间总是极为宝贵，每周的可用辩论小时数有限。但这里的问题不在于时间本身。在政治中，只有一件事比辩论时间更有价值。而对于共和党而言，在当前情况下，这就是与总统特朗普保持立场一致。
（图片说明：2026年3月1日，佛罗里达州西棕榈滩国际机场，总统唐纳德·特朗普登上空军一号前做手势。）（曼德尔·恩甘/法新社通过盖蒂图片社）
周二，总统在Truth Social平台上宣称，《SAVE美国法案》是国会历史上“最重要和最具深远影响的法案之一”。他补充说，他不会支持任何反对该立法的共和党人。
共和党人认为，身份证是证明您是有效选民的必要条件。然而，《SAVE美国法案》的要求远超于此，它要求提供公民身份证明——如护照或出生证明。这让生活在纽约布朗克斯区的迈克尔·萨格斯感到担忧。他接受了福克斯新闻的切尔西·托雷斯的采访。
“你的出生证明？在投票站出示社会安全号码？”萨格斯问道，“这对这个国家的某些人，包括我自己，可能有点不公平。我不想随身带着我的出生证明和社会安全卡。我是一名登记选民，从18岁开始就一直投票，现在我快60岁了。我不想这成为阻止我投票的某种蓄意行为。”
该法案已进入辩论的第四天——尽管人们怀疑参议院是否有足够的票数通过该法案。民主党人反对这项立法。但主要问题仍存在于总统所在政党的成员中。
“共和党人单凭自身无法获得足够的票数通过该法案，”怀俄明州共和党参议员辛西娅·卢米斯表示。
她指出，一些共和党人因对邮寄投票存在分歧而反对该法案。
“这不是一个一刀切的流程。这些挑战不仅在民主党核心小组中存在，在共和党核心小组中也同样存在，”卢米斯说。
最近参议院里有很多关于废除冗长辩论制度的讨论，以便参议院能够通过该法案。打破冗长辩论需要60票。因此，如果该法案没有简单多数，那么根本不存在它能获得60票的可能性。
我就这一问题向图恩提出询问。
“您没有60票，为什么还要进行这场辩论？这基本上只是一场作秀吗？”我问道。
“我们还不知道我们是否没有60票。您在做一个假设，”这位南达科他州共和党人回答。
“您党内的多名成员表示，甚至连51票都没有，”我进一步追问。
“是的。但您假设在辩论结束时没有任何民主党人会被争取过来。我并没有这么说。我感谢您的怀疑态度。但我认为这是一场重要的辩论，因为这确实是美国选举制度的核心问题，”图恩回答。
“60票”的问题令一些共和党人感到恼火，尤其是在这样一个共和党人认为能引起选民共鸣的议题上。
“如果100人的参议院中，连一项80-20的议题都无法获得60票支持，那将是真正的耻辱，”宾夕法尼亚州共和党参议员戴夫·麦考密克在福克斯商业频道上说，“因此，我们需要让民主党人面临压力，让他们向自己的选民解释。”
（图片说明：2024年11月2日，在宾夕法尼亚州斯威夫特沃特的Desaki餐厅，共和党参议院候选人戴夫·麦考密克在竞选活动中发表讲话。麦考密克正与现任参议员、民主党人鲍勃·凯西竞争，这是美国最昂贵和最受关注的参议院竞选之一。）（迈克尔·M·圣地亚哥/盖蒂图片社）
即使《SAVE美国法案》在议会程序中注定失败，但其衍生的政治议题与中期选举紧密相连。共和党人认为他们在这方面拥有政治优势。他们可以再次就非法移民问题抨击民主党人——正如总统反复引用的所谓选民欺诈问题。共和党希望在今年秋天再次将这一议题作为反击民主党人的武器。
此外，还有一些社会议题——共和党人希望将其与这项法案联系起来。
参议院共和党人设计了多项修正案，包括禁止男性参加女性体育赛事、禁止对儿童进行变性手术，以及取消多种形式的邮寄投票。反对者质疑其中两项修正案与选举安全有何关联，认为这些可能成为“毒丸”修正案（指可能导致法案整体失败的附加条款）。
“如果这些修正案按顺序被提出，难道不会降低获得51票的可能性吗？”我问田纳西州共和党参议员玛莎·布莱克本。
“让我们继续与领导层合作，看看这一切将如何推进，以及推进这些修正案的最佳方式是什么。我认为这些修正案都是好的修正案，”布莱克本没有直接回答问题。
还记得图恩提到的共和党人可能争取到一些民主党人的支持吗？这恐怕希望渺茫。
“您有时会背离自己的政党，”我询问宾夕法尼亚州民主党参议员约翰·费特曼，“为什么不与共和党人站在一起呢？”
“嗯，他们把这个法案变成了一棵‘圣诞树’，挂满了各种无关的东西，还抨击邮寄投票。绝对地，邮寄投票是安全的。佛罗里达州很喜欢这种方式，也在使用。俄亥俄州也是如此，”费特曼说。
科罗拉多州民主党参议员约翰·希肯卢珀为他所在州的邮寄投票方式进行了辩护。
“在2025年，科罗拉多州几乎99%的共和党选民都通过邮寄投票，”希肯卢珀说，“邮寄投票已被证明成本更低、更安全，而且人们都很喜欢这种方式。投票率也因此提高。这可能是目前提高选民投票率最有效的单一方式。”
但关于邮寄投票修正案的投票可能缺乏通过所需的票数，并可能导致整个法案夭折。阿拉斯加州共和党参议员丽莎·穆尔科斯基表示，阿拉斯加地域辽阔，居民难以提供必要文件。
（图片说明：阿拉斯加州共和党参议员丽莎·穆尔科斯基批评保守派和总统唐纳德·特朗普推动通过选民身份证法的企图，并将这一努力比作多年前国会民主党人推动的类似举措。）（安娜·莫尼梅克/盖蒂图片社）
“如果我碰巧住在科策布，我必须飞到诺姆去提交证明文件。如果我住在贝瑟尔社区，我要一路到安克雷奇去提交证明文件，”穆尔科斯基说，“这对阿拉斯加人来说将是一笔不小的开销。而且这些人都是有投票资格的。”
据福克斯新闻了解，图恩的计划是最终结束对该法案的辩论。但这需要60票赞成。目前距离60票还差得远，根本无法打破冗长辩论。这将导致法案夭折。不过，图恩可能要等到下周才会采取这一行动。为什么？因为这是为了向共和党选民展示姿态——即使他们无法通过该法案。
参议院将于周日就俄克拉荷马州共和党参议员马克韦恩·穆林担任国土安全部部长的提名打破冗长辩论。随后，参议员们将在周一某个时候投票确认穆林。之后，再回到《SAVE美国法案》的辩论。
图恩可能愿意让选举安全问题在参议院的辩论中继续发酵，直到就国土安全部的僵局达成协议。参议院计划在本月底开始为期两周的复活节和逾越节休会。
“必须在下周末之前解决这个问题，”图恩谈到国土安全部僵局时说，“如果政府仍处于停摆状态，我认为我们不会休会。”
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（图片说明：参议院多数党领袖、南达科他州共和党人约翰·图恩抨击参议院民主党人拒绝延长政府资金期限，并抨击参议院少数党领袖查克·舒默试图以威胁停摆的方式安抚其“极左翼”基础。）（马克西·华莱士/《华盛顿邮报》通过盖蒂图片社）
任何关于为国土安全部提供资金的协议可能会暂停对《SAVE美国法案》的辩论，这已不是什么秘密。否则，图恩可能倾向于在总统最重要的立法目标上消耗辩论时间——即使这最终一无所获。而解决国土安全部僵局的潜在协议，将为他停止《SAVE美国法案》的行动提供理由。
辩论时间是政治的“硬通货”。您可以用它来完成某些事情，或者在党内忠实支持者和总统那里积累政治资本。
在这种情况下，图恩正试图同时实现这两点。
查德·佩格拉姆目前担任福克斯新闻频道（FNC）首席国会记者。他于2007年9月加入该网络，常驻华盛顿特区。
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Reporter’s Notebook: Senate debates SAVE America Act despite not having the votes to pass | Fox News
By Chad Pergram | Fox News
Published March 20, 2026 1:44pm EDT
Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on the latest on the Senate debate over the SAVE America Act on ‘The Will Cain Show.’
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“We have a unique moment in time here, right now, to address an issue that’s really fundamental,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Tuesday.
In just an hour, the Senate would launch debate on the SAVE America Act.
Longtime Congressional agriculture reporter Matt Kaye had just asked Thune why the Senate was willing to burn so much time on the bill – despite it apparently lacking the votes to pass.
Attendees listen to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaking at an “Only Citizens Vote” bus tour rally on passing the SAVE Act at Upper Senate Park outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C.(Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“Floor time is the coin of the realm,” observed Kaye. “How does it help you if you are using up valuable floor time by having an extended debate on this issue?”
Kaye then inquired why the Senate wouldn’t toil instead on a possible farm bill or even a supplemental spending plan for the war in Iran.
Kaye is on to something. Senate floor time is always at a premium. There are only so many floor hours available each week. But floor time isn’t the issue here. There’s only one thing which is more valuable in politics. And in this particular case for the GOP, it’s staying on the right side of President Trump.
TRUMP-BACKED SENATE HOPEFUL GAINS MOMENTUM WITH TOP GOP ENDORSEMENTS BEFORE MULLIN DHS SHIFT
President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One before departing Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 1, 2026.(Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)
On Tuesday, the president proclaimed on Truth Social that the SAVE America Act is one of the “most important and consequential bills” in Congressional history. He added that he wouldn’t endorse any Republican who opposed the legislation.
Republicans say ID is essential to prove you’re a valid voter. However, the SAVE America Act goes further than that. It requires proof of citizenship – like a passport or birth certificate. That worries Michael Suggs, who lives in the Bronx, New York. He spoke to Fox’s Chelsea Torres.
“Your birth certificate? Social Security number when you show up at the polling place?” asked Suggs. “That might be a little unfair to certain people in this country, including myself. I don’t want to walk around with my birth certificate and my Social Security card. I’m a registered voter. I’ve been voting since I was 18 years old, and now I’m approaching 60. I don’t want that to be some kind of deliberate act to stop me from voting.”
The bill is now into its fourth day of debate – even if it’s doubtful the Senate has the votes to pass the measure. Democrats oppose the legislation. But the main problem lingers among members of the president’s party.
“Republicans by themselves don’t have the votes to get it passed,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
She cited that some Republicans opposed the bill over differences about mail-in voting.
“It’s not a one size fits all process. And those challenges are not only apparent within the Democrat caucus. They’re apparent within the Republican caucus,” said Lummis.
There’s been a lot of chatter in the Senate lately about torching the filibuster, so the Senate can pass the bill. Breaking a filibuster requires 60 votes. So if the bill doesn’t have a simple majority, there is simply no universe where the measure can command 60.
Yours truly took this up with Thune.
“You don’t have 60 votes. Why go through this? Is this basically just a show?” I asked.
“We don’t know that we don’t have 60 votes yet. You’re making an assumption,” replied the South Dakota Republican.
“Multiple members of your conference say that there aren’t even 51 votes,” I followed up.
“Yeah. Well, you’re making an assumption that at the end of this debate that none of the Democrats will be won over. And I’m not saying that. I appreciate your skepticism. But I think it’s an important debate to have because it is an issue that is at the very core of elections in this country,” answered Thune.
The “60 vote” issue galls some Republicans. Especially on a subject like this which Republicans believe resonates with the electorate.
“If a body of 100 people can’t find 60 votes for an issue that’s an 80-20 issue, that’s a real disgrace,” said Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., on Fox Business. “So we need to put the Democrats on the spot and have them defend this to their voters.”
THUNE REVEALS REASON DEMOCRATS ARE ‘SCARED’ TO REOPEN DHS
Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick speaks during a campaign event at Desaki restaurant on Nov. 2, 2024, in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. McCormick is running against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., in one of the country’s most expensive and closely watched Senate races.(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Even if the SAVE America Act is on a parliamentary road to oblivion, one of its feeder ramps has a junction with the midterm election. Republicans believe they have the political upper hand on this. They can again hammer Democrats on illegal immigration – punctuated by what the president cites repeatedly as voter fraud. The GOP hopes to boomerang that on Democrats this fall.
Then, there are social issues – which Republicans hope to link to this measure, too.
Senate GOPers devised amendments which would block men from playing women’s sports, bar transgender surgeries for kids and nix many forms of mail-in voting. Opponents ask what two of those three have to do with election security. That’s why they could be poison pills.
“If those those amendments are made in order, doesn’t that bring down the threshold where you might have a chance of getting 51 votes?” I asked Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
“Let’s continue to work with leadership and see how all of this is going to proceed and what is going to be the best way to get these forward. I think the amendments are good amendments,” said Blackburn, not addressing the question.
Remember what Thune said about Republicans potentially peeling off some Democrats? Good luck.
“You’re somebody who sometimes bucks your party,” I queried Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn. “Why wouldn’t you side with the Republicans?”
“Well, they’ve turned it into an unserious kind of a Christmas tree and attaching all these other things to it. And now bashing mail-in voting. Absolutely, it’s secure. Florida loves it and uses it. Ohio does too,” said Fetterman.
Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., defended his state’s approach to sending in ballots.
“Almost 99 percent of Republican voters in Colorado voted by mail in 2025,” said Hickenlooper. “Vote by mail has proven to be less expensive, more secure, and people love it. That turnout just goes up. It’s perhaps the single most effective way to increase voter turnout today.”
But a vote related to the mail-in balloting amendment likely lacks the votes to pass and could tank the entire piece of legislation. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) says the vastness of Alaska presents problems for residents to provide proper papers.
THUNE ACCUSES CRITICS OF ‘CREATING FALSE EXPECTATIONS’ AMID BACKLASH OVER STALLED SAVE AMERICA ACT
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., panned conservatives’ and President Donald Trump’s desire to pass voter ID laws, and likened the push to one made by congressional Democrats years ago.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“If I happen to live here in Kotzebue, I’ve got to fly here to Nome to present my documentation. If I live in this Bethel community over here, I’m going all the way to Anchorage to present my documentation,” said Murkowski. “This is going to be costly on Alaskans. And again, these are people who are eligible to vote.”
Fox is told that Thune’s intention is to eventually move to terminate debate on the bill. That needs 60 yeas. There’s nowhere near 60 yeas to break a filibuster. That will kill the bill. Still, Thune might not do that until next week. Why? This is about making a show of things for the GOP base – even if they can’t pass the bill.
The Senate will veer away from the SAVE America Act on Sunday to break a filibuster on the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to become Homeland Security Secretary. Senators then vote to confirm Mullin sometime on Monday. After that, it’s back to the SAVE America Act.
Thune is probably willing to let the election security issue slog continue on the floor until there’s a deal to end the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate is scheduled to leave town for the Easter and Passover recess for two weeks at the end of the month.
“It needs to get resolved by the end of next week,” said Thune of the DHS impasse. “I can’t see us taking a break if the government is still shut down.”
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., panned Senate Democrats for their resistance to a government funding extension, and blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for trying to appease his “far Left” base with threats of a shutdown.(Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
It’s not exactly a secret that any agreement to fund DHS would probably put a halt to debate on the SAVE America Act. Otherwise, Thune may be inclined to burn floor time on the president’s most important legislative goal – even if it goes nowhere. And a potential agreement to end the DHS stalemate would give him reason to cease action on the SAVE America Act.
Floor time is the coin of the realm. You can use it to get something done. Or to earn political capital among party loyalists and the president.
In this instance, Thune is trying to do both.
Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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