The House Freedom Caucus, a group of some of the most conservative members on Capitol Hill, has a plan to deliver on voter ID, codify President Donald Trump’s border security policies, pass a final reconciliation package with defense spending, cut spending to reduce the debt, and more.
With a long list of goals, the group is also calling on members to stay in Washington until the job is done.
“Republicans should not leave town until these priorities are completed and Democrats are denied every possible leverage point,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., said at Wednesday’s press conference.
The letter, addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, asks to push through a reconciliation package with defense funding, health care tax relief, with at least $1 trillion in spending cuts, so the programs pay for themselves. It also lists Trump’s border policy, banning sanctuary cities, passing an energy permitting bill, a congressional stock trading ban, term limits, the farm bill, voter ID, and for the Senate to confirm as many nominees as possible.
“If the Democrats don’t want to pass Save America, vote on Save America, at least let’s get them on the record on voter ID,” Harris said. “The bottom line is the American people sent a pretty clear message: they want Congress actually to do something, and we still have almost two months to get that done.”
“Republicans still control the House and Senate. President Trump is still in the White House. Our work is far from over,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said.
“My colleagues and I are requesting bold action before this Congress adjourns. The left is determined to fundamentally transform our nation, but we must be even more determined to preserve it. We will not surrender, and we will never stop fighting for the country we love,” she continued.
Earlier this week, the Freedom Caucus secured an ally in the upcoming leadership. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was elected to lead the conference as the minority leader. Jordan was a founding member and a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.
“The House Freedom Caucus is calm and steady,” Rep. Clay Higgins said at the press conference. “We have presented to leadership and the White House an extensive menu of legislative priorities that we’re going to lean in on. We seek that partnership, and it’s been well received. Leader Jordan was elected yesterday. He’s reviewing our menu; leaders in the Senate [and] conservative colleagues across campus are aligning with us. We’re going to get done what we can get done,” Higgins assured.
However, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas offered a dose of reality to the Daily Signal.
“It’s highly unlikely … but were trying. Nobody else has wanted to put out a plan, so we put out a plan,” he shared when asked how likley it was that these policies actually get a vote on the floor.
Roy, a member of the caucus, is leaving Congress this year after he lost the primary when running for attorney general of Texas.
“Permitting reform is one where we could probably see some movement. [Sen.] Mike Lee has done a heck of a job in the Senate, but I’m still not sure it’s where it needs to be. We’re working hard to see if we can get it there,” Roy continued.
“Let’s at least lead on some of these things and go out fighting and set the stage for the next congress … to minimize the amount of leverage that these DSA Marxists and Islamists want to use against the president, Russ Vought, and our good friends in the administration,” he concluded.