Speaker Johnson pushes ahead on funding bill with proof of citizenship mandate despite dim prospects

House Speaker Mike Johnson is vowing to press ahead with requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration as part of a bill to avoid a partial government shutdown. He's doing so even though the measure appears likely to be voted down. Johnson says the issue of election security is too critical to ignore, though research has shown that voting by non-citizens is extremely rare. It’s also clear that Republicans see value in making House Democrats take another vote on the issue. Congress must pass some form of government funding legislation this month to avoid a shutdown starting in October.