Fellow Conservative,

This week was a comparatively slow week for Congress with the House out of session and the Senate leaving town early. But behind the scenes there was still plenty of activity happening on the rescissions package and the Senate Finance Committee released its reconciliation text as the Senate prepares for the “Byrd bath.”

The Supreme Court also released its decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which is a huge win for protecting children from radical gender ideology.

♫ Ohhh… and this Byrd will make change ♫

The Senate continued their work on the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) this week. The success of the OB3 may ultimately define the 119th Congress, the first two years of President Trump’s return to the White House. Republicans have to deliver for the American people.

On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee released their text which contains many of the most consequential provisions such as Medicaid and tax cuts. Here are the key takeaways compared to the House-passed version:

• Makes permanent the expiring individual tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (included in both the House and Senate versions)

• Improves on the Medicaid reforms from the House-passed bill

• Makes permanent key expiring business expensing provisions for equipment and machinery, R&D, and the business interest limitation (the House version would allow them to expire after 2029)

• Allows full expensing for factories and other structures used in the production or refinement of goods for structures placed in service by the end of 2030 (the House version would expire after 2029)

• Reduces the provider tax to 3.5% over 5 years (the House version locks in the provider tax at 6%)

• Strengthens work requirements for Medicaid (included in both the House and Senate versions)

• Includes a placeholder for the SALT deduction, as negotiations continue (the House version would quadruple the SALT cap to $40,000)

• Increases the child tax credit from $2,000 ($1,000 if TCJA expired) to $2,200 and adds annual cost-of-living adjustments thereafter (the House bill would increase the credit to $2,400 through 2028 but would revert to a lower $2,000 credit with cost-of-living adjustments thereafter)

• Phases out tax credits for wind and solar companies more gradually than the House version of the bill

Over the weekend and into next week, the Senate bill will go through what’s known as a “Byrd bath” where the Senate parliamentarian will consider procedural arguments from Republicans and Democrats in closed door meetings in order to advise whether certain provisions comply with the Byrd Rule. A provision may violate the Byrd Rule if it:

• Does not produce a change in outlays or revenues

• Produces an outlay increase or revenue decrease when the instructed committee is not in compliance with its instructions

• Is outside of the jurisdiction of the committee that submitted the title or provision for inclusion in the reconciliation measure

• Produces a change in outlays or revenues which is merely incidental to the non-budgetary components of the provision

• Would increase the deficit for a fiscal year beyond the “budget window” covered by the reconciliation measure

• Recommends changes in Social Security.

After the “Byrd bath,” the Senate is expected to begin floor debate on the bill, which ends with a “vote-a-rama.” During a vote-a-rama, senators can force votes on an unlimited number of amendments. Following the vote-a-rama, the Senate will vote on final passage and send the amended bill back to the House, which can either accept the Senate changes or make further changes, if necessary.

>> Take a moment to urge your Senators to stand with President Trump and put Americans first in OB3. Heritage Action created our reconciliation toolkit to equip both seasoned activists and first timers with the information necessary to make a difference in this fight. Check it out below

>>> Heritage Action Reconciliation Toolkit <<<

Take Action: Urge your Senators to Vote YES on Rescissions

In addition to OB3, the ball is in the Senate’s court on rescissions. Following the House passage of H.R. 4 (which cancels $9.4 billion in previously appropriated funds for USAID, NPR and PBS), the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, June 25, with OMB Director Russ Vought testifying. Senators are currently discussing whether to move the rescissions package through the Appropriations Committee first or to consider it directly on the Senate floor. Some Republican Senators have publicly voiced an interest in amending the package to remove some of the spending cuts from the bill.

>>> Read Heritage Action’s Key Vote on H.R. 4 <<<

The Washington establishment has long fought tooth and nail against any budget cuts. But at $37 trillion in debt, we are racing towards the fiscal cliff. Congress’s addiction to spending is clear for all to see. However, by rescinding previously appropriated funds, Congress can show a willingness to start on the path towards recovery.

H.R. 4 represents more than just Heritage Action’s first Key Vote of the Congress, rescissions are a key aspect of President Trump’s agenda. Any changes to the bill would likely eliminate cuts to wasteful spending — we must ensure this doesn’t happen. That’s where you come in.

>>> Make your voice heard: Call the Senate to urge a “YES” vote on H.R. 4 <<<

The Tide is Turning on Radical Gender Ideology

The wave of “Help Not Harm” laws is growing and the legal fight to protect our children from radical gender ideology scored a big win at the Supreme Court this week.

The Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Skrmetti that Tennessee’s Help Not Harm law — which bans minors from receiving cross-sex hormones, puberty blocking drugs and irreversible surgeries— is constitutional. This is a massive victory!

So far 25 states have passed Help Not Harm legislation, with Kansas becoming the most recent state to protect children when the Republican legislature overrode Democrat Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of SB 63 earlier this year. These bills protect the safety and health of millions of children across the country.

Wins like this would not be possible without the dedication of conservatives like you. If you haven’t already done so, please consider becoming a Heritage Action Sentinel and be the first to know about our Activist Toolkits and call scripts that help shape policy around the country, including on issues like the safety of our children. To learn more, click HERE or watch the video below!

Thank you for staying engaged with us!

- The Heritage Action team

Join the fight to advance the conservative agenda.