Republicans Set Stage for Trump’s Agenda
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After Congress’ certification of the presidential election Jan. 6, Republicans expressed confidence in their ability to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said they intend to pave the way for passage of comprehensive policies linked to immigration, domestic energy production and electric vehicles.
Addressing the chamber soon after securing the speaker’s gavel this month, Johnson detailed his party’s legislative objectives for this new session of Congress.
“As leaders of a nation with vast natural resources that God has blessed us with, it’s our duty to restore America’s energy dominance. And that’s what we’ll do,” Johnson said. “We have to apply common sense. We have to stop the attacks on liquefied natural gas. Pass legislation to eliminate the Green New Deal. … We’re going to expedite new drilling permits. We’re going to save the jobs of our auto manufacturers, and we’re going to do that by ending the ridiculous [electric vehicle] mandates.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (left) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The Green New Deal progressive policy blueprint championed by senior congressional Democrats informed climate change-related provisions included in 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Leading the transportation panel for House Republicans will be Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.). The current Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman indicated he plans to “hit the ground running” this year.
“Our work will include working with President Trump to advance his infrastructure priorities, developing the next long-term surface transportation reauthorization, and reprioritizing policies that are consistent with the core purpose of infrastructure in the first place — moving people and goods safely and efficiently throughout our country,” Graves said last month. “[Transportation and Infrastructure] is a committee where members can roll up their sleeves and get things done for the American people, and I look forward to getting back to work with my committee colleagues and the Trump administration to do just that.”
Graves
On the other side of the Capitol, Thune emphasized policies associated with the Republican caucus’ legislative goals. These include policies pertaining to national food and agriculture systems, security at the southern border and tax relief.
Thune said this could be accomplished by lifting onerous government regulations and “providing for our nation’s defense in an increasingly unstable world.”
He also intends to direct Senate appropriators to facilitate “serious deliberation” of fiscal government funding bills to make the best use of taxpayer dollars. Congress is scheduled to consider fiscal 2025 appropriations bills in March.
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Johnson and Thune have signaled the potential for relying on a budget reconciliation process to advance key priorities, such as extending the Trump-era tax plan. Procedurally, a reconciliation bill requires a simple majority for approval.
The Trump administration is scheduled to begin Jan. 20 with the president-elect’s inauguration. As a candidate, Trump pledged to promote domestic energy production with an emphasis on improving existing fuel-powered vehicles.
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