Trump-backed bills on activist judges, illegal voting head for House votes
House Republicans are making another attempt to pass two major bills that aim to rein in federal judges and mandate proof of citizenship to vote. The bills, backed by President Donald Trump, have advanced through the House Rules Committee and are set to get a vote this week.
The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA Act) by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., seeks to limit district court judges’ ability to issue orders blocking Trump policies nationwide. This legislation is a response to Trump’s ongoing standoff with judges who have been blocking his agenda. The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, aims to require proof of citizenship in the voting registration process, a measure that the president and his allies have long supported.
The House Rules Committee, the final gatekeeper before legislation reaches the entire chamber, has advanced a rule combining Issa and Roy’s bills with two financial regulatory measures that are also due for a vote this week. The bills were initially slated for a vote last week but were delayed due to a showdown over an unrelated measure on proxy voting for new parents in Congress.
The House Rules Committee Chair, Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., expressed efforts to protect the chamber from a take-it-or-leave-it proposal to impose proxy voting, which was opposed by some members. The matter has since been resolved, and both the rule vote and the bills themselves are expected to pass with little drama.
However, the path in the Senate may be more challenging, as both bills would require support from at least some Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold for advancement. It remains to be seen how these bills will fare in the Senate.
Overall, House Republicans are making another push to pass these key bills, which have the backing of President Trump. The outcome of these votes could have significant implications for federal judges’ authority and voter eligibility requirements.
