Budget Reconciliation
Background information
Budget reconciliation is the prime way for the 119th Congress to enact the mandate that the American people gave President Donald Trump to restore America. Reconciliation should end the border and immigration chaos, unleash American energy, provide a road map for dismantling the Department of Education, cut spending, and protect hardworking taxpayers.
What is budget reconciliation?
Budget reconciliation is a powerful tool conservatives can use to turn their policy ideas into law during the 119th Congress. Typically, 60 votes are required to pass legislation in the Senate (a 3/5 majority). However, budget reconciliation allows them to bypass the Senate filibuster and enact reforms into law with only a simple majority (51 votes) in the Senate. That is what makes it so powerful.
Budget reconciliation is a legislative process that allows Congress to change laws on:
1) Taxes (and other types of “revenue”),
2) Spending (called “outlays”), or
3) The debt limit to bring spending and revenue in line with the priorities laid out by the annual budget resolution. Lawmakers, in other words, set out to “reconcile” existing law with their latest priorities. It’s an optional step of the annual budget process, and is separate from the appropriations and government funding process.
>> Read more about how the budget reconciliation process works
Not every reform can be passed using budget reconciliation, given its special rules. However, though reconciliation is geared towards budgetary items, it can be used creatively to pass legislation on a wide variety of topics. The House and Senate have passed a budget resolution to initiate the reconciliation process, and now the real work begins. Here are some of the policies Congress can (and should!) consider passing using the budget reconciliation process.
Secure the Border
Congress can increase resources for immigration enforcement and provide the resources needed to continue deporting illegal aliens. Congress should increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense to operationalize deportations and expand interior enforcement of immigration laws already on the books, as well as stop funding NGOs that have been exacerbating the crisis by transporting illegal aliens around the country.
Unleash American energy
The federal government has a sizable impact on the affordability of energy production in the United States. Congress must unleash American energy by allowing companies to explore and extract energy from federal lands, and reducing barriers for energy manufacturers by streamlining permitting processes. The revenue created through leases and permits falls within the reforms attainable by Congress through reconciliation. By deregulating U.S. energy industries, companies will be able to quickly produce more energy, making it cheaper to refine America’s most abundant resources. Companies will be able to pass along massive savings to consumers. This won’t just bring down the price for American’s fuel and electric bills, but also goods that use energy to get to consumers – whether in production or transportation costs.
Cut spending
As the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identifies and cuts wasteful spending, Congress should significantly cut mandatory spending for agencies that have been riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. There are Green New Deal policies, foreign aid grift, a host of Left-wing priorities, and other waste that American taxpayers have bankrolled for too long. While President Trump is working to liberate the American economy from foreign abuses, Congress must unite to liberate Americans from the burdens of federal regulations, mandates, and taxes.
>>Read more on how Congress should do this.
Dismantle the Department of Education
Following the signing of President Trump’s executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, Congress must use the reconciliation process to take the necessary steps to close the department. This requires right-sizing and reducing the federal workforce, and moving the authority for management of certain programs (i.e. special needs funding, free school lunches for qualifying families, and the processing of federal student loan funding) to other agencies.
Preserve and expand tax cuts
While cutting spending is critical, America also needs to unleash economic growth. Lowering taxes helps businesses to grow, create wealth, and encourages entrepreneurship. If Congress does not renew President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (many are currently set to expire in December 2025), Americans could be facing the biggest tax hike in American history.
Additional Resources from Heritage Action:
Additional Resources from The Heritage Foundation:
Fact Sheet: Budget Reconciliation Priorities for the 119th Congress
Report: An Education Reconciliation Agenda for the 119th Congress: 12 Reforms
USA Today: Trump’s tariffs are only the start. Congress must now cut taxes and regulations.
Commentary: Trump Administration Puts Subsidized Green-Energy Companies on a Diet
Special Report: What If the Trump Tax Cuts Expire? A Primer on What Is at Stake
Key Points
Congress must fulfill promises made. Now that Congress has passed a budget resolution, the real work begins to deliver for the American people. They must draft a reconciliation bill that delivers on securing our border, unleashing American energy, cutting wasteful spending, dismantling the Department of Education, and protecting hardworking taxpayers.
Increase resources for border security. Congress should provide more funding to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense to deport illegal aliens and enforce immigration laws already on the books. They should also stop funding NGOs that are transporting illegal aliens around the country.
Expand domestic energy production. Congress should use reconciliation to lease, and allow companies to explore and extract energy on federal lands. More domestic energy production will help bring energy costs down for Americans.
Remove red tape for American energy companies. Congress should use its power to make changes to revenue under reconciliation to deregulate the permitting process. By helping companies produce energy more quickly, it will make it cheaper to refine America’s most abundant resources. Companies will be able to pass along massive savings to consumers.
Cut wasteful spending. To revive America’s economy, we must get our fiscal house in order and stop wasteful spending. The work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a start, but Congress must do its part. Congress should significantly cut spending for agencies that have been riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. Whether it’s cutting Green New Deal policies, foreign aid grift, or Left-wing priorities, Congress must make spending cuts that will outlast the Trump administration.
Close the Department of Education. Congress should use reconciliation to right-size and reduce the federal workforce. They should close programs in the Department of Education that can be ended using the reconciliation process.
Stop the tax hike. If Congress does not renew President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (many are currently set to expire in December 2025), Americans could be facing the biggest tax hike in American history.
Unleash economic growth. Lowering taxes helps businesses to grow, create wealth, and encourages entrepreneurship. Congress should not only work to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but to expand the cuts as well.
Call Notes
My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY, STATE].
I am calling to urge [MEMBER OF CONGRESS] to use the reconciliation process to sign an America First legislative package into law.
Reconciliation is the prime way to enact the mandate that the American people gave President Trump to restore America. No matter the approach that policymakers take, they should use reconciliation to:
Protect the border and enforce immigration laws
Increase energy independence
Reduce inflation and cut wasteful spending
Preserve and expand the 2017 Trump tax cuts
And create a road map for dismantling the Department of Education
Please tell [MEMBER OF CONGRESS] to support President Trump by passing a reconciliation package that makes good on his promises to America.
Thank you.
Social Posts (remember to insert the social handle of your member)
[MEMBER], The American people urge you to include these priorities in Reconciliation: 1️⃣ Secure our Borders 2️⃣ Unleash American Energy 3️⃣ Cut Wasteful Spending 4️⃣ Preserve & Expand Tax Cuts for Families and Businesses 5️⃣ Implement a road map for dismantling the Dept. of Education
The @HouseGOP & @SenateGOP must deliver on the mandate given by the American people. Take Action and join me in calling your lawmakers to pass a Reconciliation Bill that reflects @POTUS priorities. [https://heritageaction.com/action/demands-for-reconciliation]
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