The greatest nation in world history has just gone through four years of terrible inflation, an open border, failure on the global stage, increased crime, rejection of common reason, and a steady diet of radical woke dogma. But six weeks ago, the American people courageously declared that we’d had enough. Seventy-seven million people gave President-elect Donald Trump a landslide political triumph. He won the popular vote, took every swing state, and secured an unquestionable mandate to restore American strength and prosperity.
Republicans were also handed control of both chambers of Congress, allowing President Trump to begin implementing his America First agenda on day one. The grave failings of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi must be addressed right away.
The American people cannot afford to wait for help when their lives and livelihoods are at danger. As the Republican leadership in Congress, we have developed an aggressive plan to eliminate any bottlenecks and offer a smooth path for President Trump’s reforms and policy program. He will use his executive authority to quickly address many of the challenges left by the Biden administration, but Congress must cement President Trump’s legacy and bring about fundamental change.
With a single legislative branch, we will be able to get started right away when the 119th Congress convenes. While media pundits mocked the idea of a Republican-controlled Washington, House Republicans braced themselves for the opportunity. We led the charge in developing legislative solutions to end the border crisis, restore American energy superiority, lower taxes for families and job creators, and restore common sense. Throughout the campaign, we emphasized how our beliefs and ideas might help President Trump turn the country around.
To carry out that objective, we must remain unified. Despite the popularity of President-elect Trump’s campaign pledges, Congressional Democrats will do everything they can to derail us. Every significant action will require nearly unanimous support from House Republicans. We don’t have time or votes to spare.
President Trump’s return to Washington, D.C. in 2025 will be substantially different from his first visit in 2017, as the scene has changed dramatically in the eight years since.
Republicans in Congress campaigned on President Trump’s America First agenda, his cabinet picks and transition operation have received widespread support, world leaders and even former political opponents are welcoming his return to office, and House leaders have been working with President Trump’s team for months to ensure we are on the same page on the policy prescriptions required to pull America back from the brink.
Consider the budget reconciliation procedure as evidence. In 2017, congressional Republicans had significant disagreements on the breadth and scope of the measure. Failure to properly plan hindered the President’s capacity to carry out his objectives. This time, we’ve created an agenda packed with ideas that a majority of Americans across the country have already supported. The only thing standing in the way of legislative victory is Congress itself.
Through reconciliation, we will fight to guarantee that President Trump has every resource he needs to halt the lethal wave of illegal aliens who have invaded our country and caused devastation on our neighborhoods. We will avert the largest tax increase in US history. We will revitalize the economy and lower inflation under Bidenomics. We will reestablish America’s energy superiority and repeal the harmful Green New Deal. And we will shrink the size and scope of government while increasing its efficiency and accountability.
There is a valid explanation for the country’s palpable exhilaration and fresh hope. The American people are ready to stop losing and begin winning again, and now is the time.
It is a new day in our country, and we have laid the groundwork in Congress for President Trump to come roaring back. Nobody expects our transformational goal to be simple, but nothing important ever is.
We are prepared to fight to make America great again. And we will.
Steve Scalise, the majority leader, represents Louisiana’s 1st District in the United States House of Representatives.
Majority Whip Tom Emmer represents Minnesota’s 6th District in the United States House of Representatives.
Lisa McLain, Republican Conference Chair, represents Michigan’s 9th District in the United States House of Representatives.
