Fellow Conservative,
This past week served as a major win for conservatives. From passing major agenda items in the U.S. House of Representatives, to a bevy of conservative policies moving forward at the state level, there is much to celebrate.
The SAVE Act Passes the House
After several delays, the House finally passed the all-important SAVE Act (H.R. 22) this week with a bipartisan vote of 220-208 <[link removed]>. This is a massive step towards securing our elections and it’s critical that we keep the pressure on. Many states do not (and in some cases refuse to) require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. The SAVE Act closes this loophole.
In short, the SAVE Act amends the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to require states to obtain proof of both U.S. citizenship and identity when registering an individual to vote in a federal election.
You can read more about how the SAVE Act would fix this problem, as well as how to counter some of the Left’s lies HERE <[link removed]>.
Last year, in the 118th Congress, Heritage Action Key Voted <[link removed]> the passage of The SAVE Act on our legislative scorecard <[link removed]>. Unfortunately, much like other common-sense legislation, it was killed by Chuck Schumer and the Democrat-controlled Senate. We can’t let that happen again.
Republicans will need 6 Democrats in the Senate to join them in order to break the filibuster.
This is an uphill battle, but it can be done with your help!
>>>Take Action: Urge your Senators to support the SAVE Act.<<< <[link removed]>
The Real Work Begins
In addition to the SAVE Act, the House passed the budget resolution. This means Congress will be able to pass legislation using a complex process known as budget reconciliation, which allows the Senate to bypass the Senate filibuster. Now the real work begins.
>>>Ryan Walker’s statement on the passage of the budget resolution<<< <[link removed]>
In practice, budget reconciliation allows Republicans to push through a large package of policies with a simple majority (51 votes) and bypasses the Senate filibuster (which requires 60 votes).. Using this process will allow Congress to deliver on the mandate voters gave them and President Trump in November.
Heritage Action is pleased that both the House and Senate have committed to seeking $1.5 trillion in cuts, a critical move to rein in reckless spending in Washington. In order to preserve our country for future generations, getting our fiscal house in order is paramount. This is a fantastic opportunity for a reset.
Reconciliation is a long, arduous process, and this is only the beginning.
>>>Read the Heritage Foundation’s priorities for reconciliation<<< <[link removed]>
Fighting to Protect our Children
For decades, radical gender ideologues have been working against parents who know what is best for their children. Now this movement is on Colorado’s doorstep.
HB25-1312 <[link removed]>, the "Kelly Loving Act,” has passed the Colorado House and is in the Senate, and threatens to strip custody from loving parents, criminalizes calling your child by their birth names, and locks kids into a lifetime of medical harm. This perverse bill cannot be signed into law.
Rest assured that Heritage Action is fighting tooth and nail for family values in Colorado. So far, Colorado State Senators have received well over 150,000 emails from the grassroots as a result of our work, and the fight is far from over. If you live in Colorado, contact your state senator HERE <[link removed]>.
Big Wins in the States
Arkansas
Heritage Action is committed to countering malicious foreign influence, especially from the Chinese Communist Party. This week in Arkansas, HB 1561 <[link removed]> was signed into law! This legislation would prevent foreign actors, such as governments and quasi-official foundations, from promoting anti-American agendas on college
campuses.
HB 1604 <[link removed]>, which prevents state funds from being used to purchase promotional items made in China, also passed the state legislature and is awaiting Governor Huckabee Sanders’s signature.
Idaho
DEI policies simply do not belong in American society, let alone at institutions receiving taxpayer dollars. In the Gem State, Governor Little signed S 1198 <[link removed]> into law this week to put a stop to these policies in Idaho.
This bill will prohibit Idaho’s institutions of higher education from providing preferential treatment, mandating DEI related courses, and establishing DEI offices or contracts. This commonsense legislation safeguards the rule of law, respect for individual rights, and equal treatment under the law.
Indiana
Decisions about a state’s constitution and laws should be based on the voices of its citizens – not foreign billionaires. Thankfully, Indiana became the fourth state this year to enact protections against foreign funding from influencing state ballot measures. Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1467 <[link removed]>, which bans foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns in the state
of Indiana.
Foreign interests influencing our elections is not just a hypothetical problem. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has given over $245 million <[link removed]> to the New Venture Fund and the Sixteen
Thirty Fund since 2016. The Sixteen Thirty Fund poured nearly $37 million <[link removed]> into ballot initiatives to change
state laws on everything from abortion to elections during the 2023-2024 cycle.
As we continue to advocate for conservative values in states like Colorado, it is only right to celebrate wins. This week was a resounding success and it could not have been done without the grassroots. Thank you for all that you do.
- Ryan and the Heritage Action team
Join the fight to advance the conservative agenda.
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