U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Tuesday joined more than a dozen of her colleagues who have argued the Senate should remain in session, skipping its normal summer recess, in order to pass the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
Blackburn made the comments during an appearance on Newsmax TV after being asked whether President Donald Trump was driving a wedge between Republican voters and the Senate by repeatedly calling for the passage of the election integrity legislation.
“No one has worked harder than President Trump to make certain that we exercise election integrity,” said Blackburn. “Those of us that comprise the Steering Committee, which is the conservatives in the Senate, have been saying for months: We will stay here weekends and until we can get this passed because we know this is important.”
Blackburn clarified her stance moments later, stating that she supports remaining in Washington, D.C. to pass the bill, or else breaking the SAVE Act into different pieces of legislation, in order to pass its contents.
“We’re saying whatever it takes. If it is staying here, if it is breaking the bill in pieces, doing pieces one at a time, whatever we need to do to make certain that we pass the SAVE Act,” said the senator. “We’re all-in on getting the SAVE Act passed.”
The senator included part of her appearance in a post to social media, where Blackburn wrote, “American elections are for American citizens. No exceptions. No excuses. Pass the SAVE America Act.”
American elections are for American citizens. No exceptions. No excuses.
Pass the SAVE America Act.
Put Americans first. pic.twitter.com/tkqcK2pFeD
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 28, 2026
With Blackburn’s public confirmation, both of Tennessee’s senators now support skipping the Senate’s summer break, as U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) previously revealed his position in a Monday post to X.
“I stand ready to stay in Washington through the August recess—as long as it takes—to get the SAVE America Act passed,” wrote Hagerty.Â
The summer recess is currently scheduled to begin on August 7, just one day after Tennessee primary voters will cast their ballots.
In addition to Blackburn and Hagerty, U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Todd Young (R-IN), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Darline Graham (R-SC) have said they will cancel the recess to pass the bill.
Despite the push, some say Republicans lack the votes to even achieve a simple majority, as Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) previously broke with Republicans to vote with Democrats during a June vote on legislation by former Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that included portions of the SAVE America Act.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) recently said he planned to “have some conversations” following the calls to cancel the summer recess.
The SAVE America Act, as passed in the U.S. House, would require proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections, create national photo identification requirements, require states to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls, and restrict voting by mail.
Watch Blackburn’s full remarks:
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
