Op-Ed: Rep. Kevin Hern and Rep. Lisa McClain: Why all House Republicans and Democrats should support the Budget Committee's framework
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump repeatedly promised to secure the border, restore American energy dominance, rein in inflation, and lower taxes for working families. In response, the American people gave President Donald Trump a historic victory: a Republican nominee for President won the popular vote for the first time in two decades.
Americans overwhelmingly want an agenda that puts our country first — a clear mandate for the entire Congress — and they expect us to deliver.
Today, we will vote on the next step required to deliver President Trump’s full agenda. And it will all be in one big, beautiful bill.
Today’s vote will instruct committees to identify better investments and more savings. They will be able to start crafting detailed policy language.
The final legislation will invest in border security and our national defense. It will save money by rooting out the waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money. It will encourage more investment in the energy sector to increase production and lower costs.
If we don’t pass this bill, Americans could see the largest tax increase in history.
Still, Democrats will undoubtedly misrepresent this vote. That narrative willfully ignores the statutory budget process. It also distorts the nature of a budget resolution. A budget resolution simply sets targets and instructs committees to draft specific reconciliation legislation.
The reality is simple: passing the House budget resolution sends a clear message that we are ready to meet the full mandate of the American people and fulfill President Trump’s complete full agenda.
President Trump understands what’s at stake with this vote. That’s why he posted on Truth Social that “the House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it!” In contrast, the Senate’s budget resolution, which passed the upper chamber last week, does not include the important tax provisions. For example, a family of four making $80,610, the median income in the United States, would see a $1,695 tax increase.
Now, the table has been set. The president has made his priorities clear. The question is squarely before the House: will we pave the way to enact the full agenda?
If the answer is yes, House Republicans must come together this week. Failure to unite could result in a failure to deliver.
We all share the same goal: to make good on the promises we made to the American people. The House Budget Committee gave us a framework. Now, it’s time for Republicans and Democrats to all vote yes, accept the full mandate entrusted to us by the American people, and take the next step toward enacting President Trump’s full agenda.
Rep. Kevin Hern represents Oklahoma’s 1st District in Congress and is the House GOP’s Policy Chairman; Rep. Lisa McClain represents Michigan’s 9th District and is the House GOP Chairwoman.
