Now Is the Time for a Second Reconciliation Bill

Washington has a chance to deliver real relief to families who are struggling with high prices and limited choices. Last year’s reconciliation bill made some progress, but it did not finish the job. The Republican Study Committee is right to call this moment what it is: an opportunity to lead and to deliver on the promises made to hardworking families.

A second reconciliation bill should focus on three priorities. We need further tax relief. We need patient-centered health care reforms. And we need responsible entitlement reforms that put our safety-net programs on a sustainable path.

Tax policy is the most direct tool Congress has to help with affordability. Families are still facing higher costs on everything from groceries to child care. Giving workers more take-home pay should be a top goal. Pro-growth tax relief is proven to encourage work, investment, and job creation. It gives families space to breathe.

Health care reform belongs in this package. Costs keep rising because Washington keeps doubling down on the same failed model of centralized control. A better approach puts patients in charge. Expanding health savings accounts and widening the range of plans Americans can choose from would give families more flexibility and lower premiums. When people are trusted to make their own health care decisions, markets respond with better prices and better service.

Finally, Congress needs to take entitlement reform seriously. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. Smart, targeted reforms can protect today’s seniors while ensuring these programs remain strong for the next generation. Fiscal responsibility is not a talking point. It is a commitment to the future.

This is a moment to act. The American people elected a government that promised to put families first. A second reconciliation bill that delivers tax relief, patient-centered health care, and long-term fiscal reforms would honor that promise. It is ambitious, and that is the point. The country needs leadership that matches the size of the challenge.