WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: RSC Members Sound Off on Successes of Republican Trifecta During State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, President Donald Trump gave one of the most influential speeches to Congress on the defining issues that Americans care the most about: restoring economic greatness, ending the border crisis, and reasserting American strength on the world stage. Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) penned a series of op-eds detailing how the bold conservative policies of the Republican trifecta have made life better for American families.
Here’s what members of the RSC are saying about the state of our union:
Rep. William Timmons (SC-04) in FITS News: “Since President Trump took office, inflation has been cut by more than half, gas prices have fallen to their lowest average in over four years, real wages are growing, and for the first time since 2020, Americans have seen an overall price decline. On housing, mortgage rates have hit their lowest level since September 2022, affordability has reached a four-year high, and national median rent has fallen for four consecutive months. In a state where 13 percent of employment is in manufacturing, these policies are also protecting an estimated 97,000 full-time jobs across South Carolina.”
Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07) in The Detroit News: “Tax season is underway. It’s a time that puts pressure on Michigan families, as they compile documents, fill out IRS forms and find out how much they owe or how big their refund will be. This year, there’s a little less stress thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts — the law my Republican colleagues and I passed, and President Donald Trump signed, to provide real relief and make life more affordable. These tax cuts are already lowering costs for families, delivering for the American worker and strengthening our local economy in Michigan.”
Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) in the San Angelo Standard Times: “Our great nation will hear a lot of promises this evening during the President’s address, but Trump Accounts are not one of them. This program is already law, already funded, and already changing the financial trajectory of every child born in America this year. This is not merely a talking point — it is a fact. Republicans are delivering for the next generation so they can afford their American Dream.”
Rep. Nick Begich (AK-AL) in The Alaska Story: “Just a little over a year ago, President Donald Trump returned to office with a resounding mandate from the American people to restore prosperity, secure the border, rebuild American strength, and put the American people first. Tonight, the American people will hear directly from the President about Republicans’ transformative results. Here in Alaska, that progress started with unlocking our state’s extraordinary potential. On day one, this Administration took decisive action to reverse the Biden Administration’s punitive restrictions on Alaska and issued an executive order to fully unleash our state’s abundant natural resources. The President’s executive order to unlock Alaska reversed the Biden administration’s targeted assault on our resource economy and made clear that Alaska would once again be central to America’s energy future.”
Rep. Dave Taylor (OH-02) in the Highland County Press: “Few things are more important than keeping our families safe. Thankfully, now we have a president who knows that. Since President Trump was sworn into office, cities across the U.S. have seen a steep decline in every major violent crime category compared to the previous year. Our nation’s murder rate has plunged to a 125-year low, robberies are down by 20%, and aggravated assaults are down nearly 10%. In our own Buckeye State, Columbus is seeing a 33% decrease in crime, while in cities like Orlando, Florida, crime has plummeted by 58%. This is no coincidence.”
Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10) in the York Daily Record: “As Americans look ahead to President Trump’s State of the Union address, one message that consistently stands out is that his policies that put American workers, families, and small businesses first are beginning to make a real difference for hardworking Americans in communities like ours. Here at home, small businesses remain the backbone of our local economy. From family-owned restaurants and local retailers, to construction crews and manufacturers, these entrepreneurs drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen our communities; they are, indeed, the backbone of the American economy. Many of them have told me that the Working Families Tax Cuts – historic legislation passed by President Trump and Republicans in Congress – have given them the ability to reinvest in their businesses, hire new employees, upgrade equipment, and keep prices more stable for their customers – for starters.”
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21) in Newsweek: “Since returning to office, President Trump has taken decisive action to restore America’s standing on the world stage and make it clear that we’re done apologizing for defending our interests. America is back, stronger than ever, and we won’t apologize for it. Let’s look to the Middle East. Under Joe Biden’s failed presidency, the world’s most volatile region plunged into chaos with the war in Gaza. The Biden-Harris administration's weakness led to unstable and hostile conditions. But, in less than a year, President Trump did what the so-called “experts” said couldn’t be done. He ended the war by building a ceasefire framework, securing the release of hostages and putting forward a 20-point plan aimed at long-term regional stability and prosperity. No one else could have achieved such a feat.”
Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) in the Washington Times: “Medical deserts in rural areas are growing. Given these challenges, it would be a mistake for Congress to sit idly by. Because of this, I am helping lead the charge on ways to deliver meaningful health care solutions for rural America. For example, in the Rural Health Transformation Program, Congress allocated $50 billion to support rural hospitals. We created this generational investment through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The program will help modernize health care infrastructure, supplement health care services and expand access to care in rural America.”
Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03) in the Washington Reporter: “Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump has undertaken a whole-of-government strategy to surge resources to the border, reinforce our border barrier system, end catch-and-release and mass parole policies, disrupt cartel operations, and ensure law enforcement can accomplish their missions. These actions had an immediate effect, with encounters at ports of entry along the Southwest border dropping 93 percent in the 11 days after January 20, 2025, compared to the last 11 days of President Biden’s term.”
Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08) in Breitbart News: “Six months ago, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally murdered on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light-rail train—just miles from my district. Her killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history, should never have been on the streets. This tragedy exposed the deadly consequences of soft-on-crime policies in Democrat-run cities, where victims suffer while offenders face minimal accountability. In his first year back in office, President Donald Trump has confronted these failed approaches head-on. Tonight, during his State of the Union address, he will rightly celebrate the progress in delivering on his promise to make America safer—so that no more women like Iryna have to fear for their lives on public transit.”
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04) in the Washington Reporter: “One year into President Donald J. Trump’s second term, the state of our union is strong. For four years, President Joe Biden plunged our union into one crisis after another. Hoosiers faced skyrocketing inflation, the highest gas prices, the worst border crisis on record, and multiple wars began around the world due to Biden’s failed leadership. This is the mess President Trump, Congressional Republicans, and I inherited. We are working hard to right these terrible wrongs and usher America into her Golden Age. The single largest achievement so far in President Trump’s term has been the Working Families Tax Cuts. I was honored to work with the president to pass this pro-growth legislation, which cut federal spending, delivered historic investments in rural America, and expanded tax cuts to farmers, small businesses, and middle-class families.”