Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told Newsmax on Wednesday that despite a House delay, the SAVE America Act and companion defense spending bills will be approved and sent to the Senate.
Roy, appearing on "National Report," said that what some called a rebellion in the House over procedural moves to line up votes for the legislation amounted to "inside baseball."
Roy predicted that that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Save America Act will be approved in the House when it is reconvened.
"It's all about national security," he said. "It's all about ensuring that only American citizens are making decisions about the future of our country. They go hand in hand."
Roy said the consequential legislation takes on increased importance considering the Supreme Court ruling Tuesday on citizenship rights.
"On the same day that the United States Supreme Court put out their, I think, foolish decision on birthright citizenship, we've had various conversations at the conference about needing to act as a Congress to codify border security, to take a position on birthright citizenship, on the definition of 'subject of the jurisdiction thereof,' and other issues to back up the president," he said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump's executive order declaring that children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.
The justices relied on a long-settled understanding of the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, and more recent federal laws in ruling that anyone born in the country, with very limited exceptions, is a citizen.
Trump's restrictions had been blocked by several lower courts and had not taken effect anywhere in the U.S.
Despite his level of optimism about the SAVE Act legislation, Roy admitted to a level of frustration over the delay, particularly concerning defense spending.
"I believe we should have passed it this week," he said. "That was my preference. And we should have passed it with the Save America Act attached to it to send a message to the Senate that we believe that they need to move everything together that will protect this country."
Roy said some members of Congress still don't understand that protecting the viability of the United States now involves many different aspects and that all need to be supported.
"I hope when we come back on the 13th we'll have this all lined up and move forward to get the SAVE Act done, get the NDAA done, and frankly, get spending done that we need to, because Democrats are now threatening a shutdown as well in September," he said.
Roy told Newsmax on Tuesday that congress needs to respond to the Supreme Court ruling on citizenship by initiating a full block on immigration.
"The United States Supreme Court issued an opinion today that is massively damaging to the national security and to the fabric of our country, and it is incumbent upon the United States Congress to respond," Roy said Tuesday on "Rob Schmitt Tonight."
"We need to respond forcefully and quickly," he said, suggesting that in light of the ruling, Congress should make sure no one comes into the United States for the foreseeable future. "Certainly, no one who's pregnant," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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