Mike Lee urges Senate Republicans to pass SAVE Act as tribute to Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Mike Lee is urging Senate Republicans to move quickly on the SAVE America Act, arguing that passing the election bill this month would be a fitting tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham after his sudden death.

Lee made the appeal during a Sunday, July 12, appearance on Fox News. He said Graham had been one of the legislation's strongest supporters and called on GOP lawmakers to make its passage an immediate priority.

Mike Lee ties SAVE Act to Graham's legacy

The Utah Republican said Graham had devoted significant energy to advancing the bill, which Lee introduced in the Senate about two and a half years ago.

"Lindsey Graham spent a lot of time with, like me, he had a lot of enthusiasm for this bill," Lee said.

He argued Republicans have several options for advancing the legislation.

Lee said the bill could be attached to another must-pass vehicle, brought to the Senate floor for debate until it passes, or advanced in part through "creative uses of budget reconciliation."

"I'm not terribly partial to any of these three," Lee said. "I personally prefer the second. I think that would give us our best chance, but I will take any opportunity to debate this, any opportunity to cause it to become law."

Lee also claimed the legislation enjoys broad public backing.

"The American people deserve it. The American people want it. Voters overwhelmingly support it to the tune of about 80 percent. That's Democrats and Republicans alike," he said.

He then connected the bill directly to Graham's final legislative efforts.

"One of the best ways we could honor Lindsey Graham's legacy would be to take this up and pass it this month."

Lindsey Graham remained influential until his death

Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina and a close ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday evening at age 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness."

Before his death, Graham had returned from Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. According to the BBC, there were no known health concerns before that trip.

Trump remembered Graham as a "true American Patriot" who would be "greatly missed."

Zelensky also paid tribute, writing on X that he was "deeply saddened" by Graham's death and adding, "America and the world have lost a determined leader."

Lindsey Graham's alliance with Trump evolved over the years

Graham's relationship with Trump changed dramatically over the past decade. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he sharply criticized Trump and warned Republicans against nominating him.

Following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Graham said on the Senate floor, "Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way," before adding, "All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough."

He later renewed his support for Trump, voted against convicting him in his 2021 impeachment trial and backed his 2024 presidential campaign.

In a 2023 interview with the BBC, Graham said, "There is a dark side to Donald Trump... and he was a very good president. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did."