WATCH: DHS Secretary Noem speaks about conservation law and election security in Phoenix

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used a news conference outside Phoenix to promote the Republican voting and elections bill passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this week.

He watches: House rebukes Trump’s tariffs on Canada, passes conservation bill

The U.S. Voter Eligibility Protection Legislation would require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and impose photo ID requirements to cast a ballot, among other election changes.

Noem called it an opportunity “to show that we are serious about securing our elections.”

She reiterated Republicans’ view that the bill is necessary to prevent noncitizens from deciding elections. It has been shown that non-citizen voting is rare and that it does not occur in any kind of coordinated manner.

Asked if she had any examples of noncitizens voting in Arizona, Noem said she assumed that had happened but could not point to one.

Democrats and other critics say the so-called “Save America” Act, if it becomes law, could disenfranchise millions of American citizens who do not have ready access to documents proving their citizenship.

The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where it does not appear to have received the 60 votes needed to overcome filibuster rules.

While answering a reporter’s question about Customs and Border Protection’s use of an anti-drone laser earlier this week that prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close the airspace over El Paso, Texas, for several hours, Noem seemed to acknowledge the chaos caused by the event.

“This has been an interagency task force mission, and we continue to work on communicating through that,” Noem said during an event in Arizona.

He watches: Noem says the laser incident that shut down El Paso’s airspace was a “joint agency” mission.

A source familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that the laser was deployed without coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The sudden closure led to confusion in the city, which has a population of 700,000 and is located on the Mexican border.

Noem also clarified that she is still in charge of her department.

With congressional funding for her agency halted and Minnesota’s controversial immigration crackdown ending, a reporter asked Noem if she was still running the department.

“I’m still in charge of DHS,” Noem replied, moving on to additional questions about the election.

Noem was met with harsh criticism not only from Democrats, but also from some Republicans, after federal agents shot and killed two American citizens who were protesting against the Minnesota operation, and it appeared that Noem made a mistake in stating the facts of the cases in the first hours.