Chairman Pfluger on Reconciliation 2.0: "It Would Be Political Malpractice to Not Do This"
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined The Scott Jennings Show to discuss the growing momentum behind Reconciliation 2.0, a legislative effort being advanced by the Republican Study Committee to continue implementing President Trump’s agenda through the budget reconciliation process.
Reconciliation allows legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote, enabling Republicans to move forward on key priorities without needing Democratic support.
Chairman Pfluger said House Republicans are actively working with leadership to finalize the next reconciliation package, which would build on the success of last year’s Working Families Tax Cuts:
“We've got great support from Speaker Johnson and Leader Scalise. They know what's at stake. I think the Senate knows what's at stake. They can't count on 60 votes for much of anything. So inside our own conference, we are doing the hard work right now to figure out what can go in.”
Chairman Pfluger said The Republican Study Committee is advocating for a reconciliation package that focuses on lowering costs for American families, especially in health care and housing:
“We're in tax season right now, so people are going to get more back into their pockets as a result of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. And we want to build on that, and we want to get after things like health care to make it more transparent and competitive and lower costs.”
“The average age of the first-time home buyer is 41. That's not living the American Dream. Let's set the conditions so that every family, new family, young Americans, can buy a house.”
“Those are the things that we still anticipate are going to be part of this bill, and I expect in the next couple of weeks that we're going to have a very good idea of what we think we can achieve, and we need to push it forward.”
“Now is the time. It would be political malpractice to not do this.”
Chairman Pfluger also warned that Senate Democrats’ continued refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security is already creating risks for public safety and travel:
“This is the department that was formed after the tragedy of 9/11 that sent me and my colleagues into all sorts of different places around the world to protect from terrorist attacks. So is it going to take another crisis, another attack on our homeland, to wake them up? I don't know, but it's day 17, and Chuck Schumer seems to be completely opposed to anything reasonable.
“Over the weekend, the tragedy in Austin highlights the need. This was somebody who had been in the country for over 20 years, and he was radicalized, or maybe radicalized the whole time, and then finally executed his terror act.
“How many of those people are in the country right now that DHS personnel could be preventing from attacking communities, and now they're not getting a paycheck, and they're not able to do their job, and it's because Democrats cannot be reasonable.”
Chairman Pfluger also discussed ongoing U.S. military operations targeting Iranian-backed terrorism, praising the service members carrying out Operation Epic Fury:
“I'm so proud of the airmen and the warriors who are there, who are willing to give their lives to protect our country, and they are protecting it because Ayatollah Khomeini has sown terrorism and chaos throughout the Middle East and the world for 47 years.”
“This is a moment where the President made a historic and bold, yet correct decision to take out this terror regime that chants ‘Death to America’ at every opportunity.”
“The professionalism from all of our military warriors who I served with, and many of whom are still serving and flying these combat missions, I applaud them, I thank their families, and the sacrifice that they are willing to do something that will keep not just the United States of America safe, but our allies and the rest of the globe as well.”
“We stay deeply connected with this mission and are watching it closely, but applaud the President for his bold decision.”