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Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., arrives for the Senate Armed Services Committee closed briefing on Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)

Virginia Grace McKinnon / @virginiagmck

Virginia Grace McKinnon is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Virginia Grace.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is leading the Senate effort to amend the SAVE America Act to include a suite of “80-20 issue policies” as pressure mounts on the upper chamber for more legislative wins.

Under immense pressure from President Donald Trump and Republican voters, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has brought the SAVE America Act to the floor for an extended debate period. Schmitt is leading the effort to insert a number of policies—including a ban on transgender surgeries for minors—that Trump wants made law into the SAVE America Act, a piece of election integrity legislation that would require proof of citizenship to vote and institute nationwide voter ID.

“Protecting our children from destructive, irreversible gender mutilation surgeries is a priority for the overwhelming majority of Americans,” Schmitt told The Daily Signal. “President Trump has been clear that this provision to save American children must be included in the SAVE America Act.”

In the lead-up to the ongoing debate on the SAVE America Act in the Senate, the president has not only pushed for adding a number of conservative policies but for the Senate to pass the legislation using the talking filibuster, a procedural process that would circumvent the 60-vote cloture rule.

In essence, Republicans are simply dragging out the normal process for considering a bill as they advance the SAVE America Act.‘I think we can win the argument’ on voter ID, @berniemoreno told me. ‘Make the Democrats go on the floor.’https://t.co/fo8nvbTLhD— George Caldwell (@GCaldwell_news) March 17, 2026

In essence, Republicans are simply dragging out the normal process for considering a bill as they advance the SAVE America Act.‘I think we can win the argument’ on voter ID, @berniemoreno told me. ‘Make the Democrats go on the floor.’https://t.co/fo8nvbTLhD

Schmitt’s substitute amendment to the SAVE America Act addresses the president’s desire to go big and be bold.

While the current debate on the Senate floor is not a commitment to pass the SAVE America Act with the talking filibuster, it could push the Senate toward that process and get Democrats on record voting against 80-20 issues such as requiring voter ID, proof of citizenship for voter registration, securing mail-in ballots, banning men from women’s sports, and outlawing the transgender mutilation of children.

“It would be a suicidal move for us as Senate Republicans, or Republicans in general, if we don’t put everything we’ve got into this,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, told reporters Wednesday. He continued, saying he hopes this debate will last “many weeks if necessary.”

?@BasedMikeLee on the SAVE America Act: “It would be a suicidal move for us as Senate Republicans, or Republicans in general, if we don't put everything we've got into this.”@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/86tVuaN53d— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) March 18, 2026

?@BasedMikeLee on the SAVE America Act: “It would be a suicidal move for us as Senate Republicans, or Republicans in general, if we don't put everything we've got into this.”@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/86tVuaN53d

“We look forward to putting the Democrats on record and showing just the lack of common sense they apply to so many of these issues that the American people agree with us,” Thune told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

“It is a privilege to lead this fight,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., one of the Senate’s top advocates for banning transgender surgeries for minors, told The Daily Signal.

“My amendment would ban so-called gender-affirming care for minors nationwide to ensure protections for children are enshrined into law, and I am calling on every single Senator to support this commonsense effort,” Blackburn said.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., supports the transgender surgeries ban and is also seeking to ban men from women’s sports. His office confirmed they expect full support on this amendment from Tuberville’s Republican colleagues.

We are in the fight of a lifetime.America’s 250th year is not just a celebration. It is a test—of whether we still have the courage to defend the republic we inherited, and whether we still have the will to fight for its future.The Senate must pass the SAVE America Act. pic.twitter.com/JqND7UYEE8— Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) March 18, 2026

We are in the fight of a lifetime.America’s 250th year is not just a celebration. It is a test—of whether we still have the courage to defend the republic we inherited, and whether we still have the will to fight for its future.The Senate must pass the SAVE America Act. pic.twitter.com/JqND7UYEE8

Schmitt has introduced these as a single amendment, but they will also likely be voted on separately. The debate is expected to last seven to 10 days, including late nights of debate, possibly even Saturday in session.  

“I am looking forward to a vigorous, long, and spirited conversation on the floor of the United States Senate on these important issues,” Thune said on the Senate floor Tuesday, kicking off the extended SAVE America Act debate.

“Can you imagine allowing a child not yet out of middle school to receive a medical procedure that will result in permanent mutilation of part of her body?” Thune asked on the Senate floor.  

? JUST IN: Senate Majority Leader John Thune throws full support behind Trump’s proposal to ban gender procedures for minors as part of the SAVE America Act."The SAVE America Act extends protections to these procedures for all children."pic.twitter.com/eTZtY32Xf8— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 17, 2026

? JUST IN: Senate Majority Leader John Thune throws full support behind Trump’s proposal to ban gender procedures for minors as part of the SAVE America Act."The SAVE America Act extends protections to these procedures for all children."pic.twitter.com/eTZtY32Xf8

“The SAVE America Act would extend protection from these procedures to all children, whatever state they live in,” the leader continued. 

The SAVE America Act has already passed the House, as have bills that ban men in women’s sports and ban transgender surgeries for minors.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 was passed in the House in January 2025 by a 218-to-206 vote, with two Democrats breaking party lines to vote. The Protect Children’s Innocence Act was passed in the House in December 2025 by a 216-to-211 vote, with three Democrats voting “yea” and four Republicans voting “nay.”

Given how the House voted, it’s possible some of these votes in the Senate are bipartisan.

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