Paletuatoa Peniamina urged opposition to the SAVE Act in a press release, describing the measure as voter suppression and arguing that it would create new barriers for some eligible voters.

“The SAVE Act is voter suppression, plain and simple,” Peniamina said in the release. “It would make it harder for seniors, students, and Latino families to vote.”

The statement did not provide details on the bill’s text, its legislative status, or the specific provisions Peniamina believes would affect those groups. It also did not include a response from supporters of the measure.

Peniamina framed the issue as part of a broader defense of voting-rights protections. He said he had signed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and pledged to continue supporting it.

“I signed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I will defend it,” Peniamina said. “I will not let them take us backward.”

The release comes as voting access and election administration remain major points of political conflict. Peniamina’s message emphasizes concerns about the practical effects of voting rules on voters who may face difficulties obtaining documents, traveling to registration locations, or navigating new administrative requirements.

The release did not identify actions Peniamina plans to take beyond calling for the SAVE Act’s defeat. It also did not state whether he expects a vote on the proposal or name lawmakers involved in the legislation.

Peniamina’s statement follows the launch of his “Unfinished Business” campaign, which has highlighted voting rights and wages. The new release places voting access at the center of that public message, while drawing a contrast between the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the SAVE Act.

Supporters and opponents of election-law changes often differ over whether stricter procedures are necessary to protect election integrity or whether they disproportionately burden eligible voters. Peniamina’s release presented the latter argument, characterizing the SAVE Act as a step backward for voting rights.