Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., expressed frustration Monday over the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, warning that the legislation’s chances of making it through the chamber have now fallen dramatically.
Appearing on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program, Kennedy unloaded on lawmakers for missing what he viewed as another opportunity to advance the legislation backed by President Donald Trump.
“We blow opportunities like it’s our job,” Kennedy said.
The Louisiana Republican pointed to the SAVE America Act as a prime example. The legislation would require identification to vote in federal elections and has already been passed multiple times by the House.
Kennedy said he would have preferred Republican lawmakers to remain in Washington for several additional days before beginning their August recess last week in an effort to finally get the measure through the Senate.
Instead, senators left for vacation after another unsuccessful attempt to advance the legislation.
“I know the party line is that we’re gonna do it when we get back, but I think our chances of getting it passed have gone down immeasurably,” Kennedy told Hannity.
Kennedy argued that lawmakers had an opportunity to act before leaving Washington, saying passage would have required only a majority vote.
“Look, all it would’ve taken is a majority vote,” he said.
Hannity shared Kennedy’s disappointment and argued that requiring identification and proof of citizenship for voting should be considered a basic requirement.
“I mean, it’s just disappointing, because it’s so fundamental — proof of citizenship, an ID,” Hannity said.
The Fox News host then pointed to several everyday activities for which Americans are already required to show identification.
Hannity noted that people need identification if they want to purchase beer, cigarettes, a Juul pod, a nicotine pouch or a bottle of wine with dinner.
He also called it “nuts” that Americans are required to provide identification for other common activities, including boarding an airplane, while such a requirement does not apply to voting.
The Senate stalemate comes despite the SAVE America Act having cleared the House multiple times.
Polling cited earlier this year by CNN data analyst Harry Enten also showed broad public support for voter ID requirements.
Enten pointed to several polls conducted in recent years indicating that roughly 80% of Americans support voter ID laws.
He described the issue as one of the relatively few areas where majorities of both liberals and conservatives agree.
Enten highlighted a 2025 Pew survey showing that 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans supported voter ID requirements.
“Normally, you might expect, hey, there’d be a big divide by party, with Republicans really for it and Democrats really against it,” Enten said.
“But not really here.”
For Kennedy, however, the immediate concern is whether the Senate has squandered its opportunity to turn that support into legislation.
While Republican lawmakers say they intend to revisit the SAVE America Act after returning from their August recess, Kennedy made clear he believes the road to passage has become considerably more difficult.
