Voter ID Fight Leaves TSA Unpaid

In this episode of Congress in Context, we examine the high-stakes weekend session where the U.S. Senate grappled with a Department of Homeland Security shutdown entering its sixth week. The episode details the intensifying partisan divide over the SAVE America Act, featuring Republican arguments for mandatory photo ID and proof of citizenship to ensure "trust and verify" election integrity, contrasted against Democratic warnings that the bill is a "voter suppression" tactic that could disenfranchise millions of citizens. We also cover the significant leadership transition at the heart of this crisis: the confirmation and subsequent Senate resignation of Markwayne Mullin to serve as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. Finally, the episode explores the broader national impact of the legislative gridlock, from skyrocketing gas prices linked to the conflict in Iran to the "chaos" at airports as unpaid TSA workers struggle to maintain security operations.

Congressional Record Analysis of the following dates:

March 21-23, 2026

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/browse-by-date

Bills

• S. 1383 (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act): This legislation, also known as the SAVE America Act, focuses on ensuring election integrity by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and a photo ID to cast a ballot.
• H.R. 7147 (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026): A bill to provide further consolidated appropriations for DHS, which has been under a partial government shutdown for over a month.
• S. 688 (Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025): Also called the FISH Act, this measure aims to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at global sources.
• S. 843 (Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025): This bill establishes a grant program to fund institutions that rescue and rehabilitate stranded or endangered sea turtles.
• S. 1092 (Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act): Known as the WIPPES Act, it requires "Do Not Flush" labeling on certain nonwoven disposable wipes.
• S. 2563 (Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025): This act directs an interagency review to identify ways to increase U.S. global competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment.
• S. 921 (Tyler’s Law): Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study and issue guidance regarding routine fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments.
• S. 4164: A bill to make technical corrections to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.