Contact: Travis Hall
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the FBI reopening its investigation into Secretary Hillary Clinton:
“I continue to be disappointed that the FBI chose not to recommend charges against Secretary Clinton in July. It is patently obvious that Secretary Clinton opted to play by her own rules – using her personal, private email system to handle highly classified information – instead of by the rule and intent of the law. Secretary Clinton violated the public trust and jeopardized America’s national security. The FBI must investigate this thoroughly and transparently, lay the groundwork to ensure Secretary Clinton is held accountable, and reaffirm that no one is above the law.”
Contact: Travis Hall
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-Texas) released the following statement after the Obama administration announced that Obamacare premiums will increase by double digits, including a 25 percent surge for Obamacare’s most popular plan:
“President Obama recently suggested that reports of Obamacare problems are ‘a lot of hysteria.’ Perhaps the president could try looking American families in the eyes and explaining that the challenges they face as a result of massive premium increases are simply ‘a lot of hysteria.’“Obamacare’s failures have not been a slow drip; instead, they have been a constant, relentless torrent wiping out Americans’ health care security since day one. Premiums are continuing to skyrocket, co-ops are collapsing, and insurers are abandoning the marketplace.
“Congress must repeal and replace Obamacare with a system that empowers consumers, improves access to care, and lowers the cost of health care, just as the Republican Study Committee’s American Health Care Reform Act would do.”
Reintroduced in Congress last year, the Republican Study Committee’s American Health Care Reform Act has 100 cosponsors, more than any other repeal-and-replace bill before Congress.
Contact: Travis Hall
WASHINGTON – In response to President Obama’s remarks yesterday on the Affordable Care Act, Republican Student Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) issued the following statement:
“President Obama thinks that Obamacare will magically succeed once he leaves office. He is wrong again, just like he has been with so many of his failed policies. Obamacare is a failure of Washington liberals standing in the way of consumers, patient care, and lower health care costs. Make no mistake, Obamacare is not failing because Congressional Republicans have held votes to repeal it. It is failing because President Obama and Congressional Democrats built it on broken promises. Obamacare’s failures are beyond repair.“While President Obama tries running self-congratulatory victory laps touting his health care law, Obamacare is running on fumes. Its co-ops are collapsing, health care plans are vanishing for at least 1.4 million Americans, and consumers are facing yet another year of staggering premium increases.
“Thankfully, it is not too late. In 2017, Congress must repeal and replace Obamacare with a system that increases access to affordable health insurance, reduces health care costs, and encourages innovation and competition. This gigantic mistake, which Washington liberals orchestrated, can be reversed, and the American people can be empowered to make their own health care decisions free of Washington mandates.”
Last year, the Republican Study Committee re-introduced the American Health Care Reform Act (AHCRA). AHCRA has more cosponsors than any other bill in Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Contact: Travis Hall
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) launched the America Without Faith project in September at the Hillsdale College Kirby Center. The project seeks to emphasize the integral role that religious institutions play in America and highlight how they contribute to our nation’s social safety net. A report from The Daily Signal describes America Without Faith:
The project, launched by the largest conservative caucus in Congress, the Republican Study Committee, aims to reinforce the importance of religious institutions’ role in civil society. These institutions have a long history in the maintenance of civil society, and have played an important role in solving problems such as drug addiction, illiteracy, hunger, homelessness, and supporting families living below the poverty line.
America’s faith-based institutions are bedrocks of our nation’s communities. An estimated 350,000 congregations work alongside faith-based organizations to provide privately-funded social services that benefit over 70 million Americans annually.
Unveiling America Without Faith, Chairman Flores pointed to the outstanding results of Yellowstone Academy, a faith-based organization in Houston that provides students from an economically-disadvantaged area with a high-quality education.
According to Flores, less than 20 percent of students graduate from public high schools in that part of Houston. However, “the first class of students that came in as 4 year olds at Yellowstone just graduated from high school in May with a 98 percent graduation rate,” he said.
“No federal bureaucrat can make that happen,” Flores added. “No federal bureaucrat can institute that sort of change in a community that’s been struggling for decades.”
And yet despite successes like these, the Obama administration continues its assault on faith-based organizations.
America Without Faith, a long-term project for the RSC, will serve as a tool for Members of Congress and advocacy groups to communicate the important role that faith-based institutions have in America’s communities.Contact: Scott Parkinson
Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement after he introduced a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for a short period of time while protecting important conservative priorities.
“After repeated delays in the United States Senate, I believe it is imperative for the House to act quickly with a responsible approach to fund the federal government. Rather than continuing to allow the Senate to wallow in the misery of Harry Reid’s hostage taking and ever-moving goalposts, the House, by acting first, can stop the uncertainty coming out of Washington today. Instead of allowing Reid to deliver his liberal political wins for out of touch special interests, the Continuing Resolution I have filed would keep government funded, protect defense spending, stop the Obama Internet give-away, and require vetting of refugees from areas dominated by radical Islamic terrorism, while addressing the need for Zika funding. I strongly encourage House leaders to schedule this legislation for a vote this week.”
The legislation introduced by Chairman Flores would:
What IS NOT included in this Continuing Resolution is the slew of extraneous demands:
The Republican Study Committee has consistently argued that the House should act early to adopt a funding bill that responsibly reflects our conservative priorities, rather than wait for the Senate’s dysfunction to create a crisis.
Contact: Scott Parkinson
Washington -- Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its annual Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook, which shows government taxes and spending growing once again to new, historic levels:
“Yesterday’s CBO report is a reminder of the damage that President Obama’s policies have caused during his eight years in office. During this time, the national debt has increased by $8.8 trillion and is projected to increase by another $8.8 trillion over the next decade. If these policies are allowed to continue, federal spending will grow from $3.9 trillion in 2016 to over $6.2 trillion in 2026; during which an ever larger share of American incomes are absorbed by increasing taxes. Even worse, CBO's outlook found that big-government policies, such as Obamacare and the tax code, are reducing people’s incentives to work, further contributing to a bleak economic outlook.
“This simply is unsustainable and unacceptable. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to preserve our country’s liberty, opportunity and security. We must adopt a responsible spending path and pro-growth reforms instead of continuing the status quo.”
In its report, the CBO warned of the dangers of increasing spending and debt, stating: “Such high and rising debt would have serious negative consequences for the budget and the nation: The likelihood of a fiscal crisis in the United States would increase.”
In March, the RSC released the Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0, the conservative caucus’ Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal. The plan balances the federal budget in eight years, reduces government spending by $8.6 trillion over the next decade and restores America’s social safety net programs to solvency, while providing for necessary pro-growth policies that would dramatically improve the economic performance of the nation. To read the complete Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0, click here, and for an Executive Summary, click here.here.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the tax reform blueprint released by the House Task Force on Tax Reform, led by RSC Member and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX):
“At more than 74,000 pages long, the current tax code is overly complicated and nearly impossible for hardworking families to navigate. Its implementation is overseen by a bloated federal bureaucracy that has lost the trust and confidence of the American people. We need a better way! The House plan lays the groundwork for a new tax code that is flatter, fairer and simpler. It proposes a system so straightforward that Americans will be able to file their taxes on a postcard. It reins in and restructures the out-of-control Internal Revenue Service. It encourages investment and innovation for small businesses. I commend my colleague Chairman Brady and all of the tax reform task force members for their work developing this much needed vision for tax reform.”
In April, the RSC submitted a set of policy recommendations to the task force, which included provisions to promote an easy to understand, pro-growth tax code. A substantial number of these recommendations were included in the final Task Force on Tax Reform blueprint. You can read all of the RSC’s task force policy recommendations here.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman (RSC) Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Texas, which will continue to block President Obama’s executive amnesty actions:
“I am pleased that the Supreme Court’s decision will continue to prevent President Obama’s unlawful and unconstitutional executive action on immigration from being implemented. Our president has a constitutional responsibility to ‘take care that the laws by faithfully executed,’ but he has continually sought to circumvent, flout or undermine laws with which he disagrees. The fact is the president does not write laws – Congress does.”
In February 2015, Chairman Flores urged Congress to defund the president’s unlawful executive actions while fully funding the Department of Homeland Security. The RSC held a press conference that featured Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, and 11 members of both the House and Senate to press the Senate to take a stand against President Obama’s actions. This court decision supports the goal of the RSC to prevent the illegal actions of this Administration.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, House Republicans unveiled their blueprint for patient-centered health care reform. The proposal includes several policy recommendations and conservative priorities promoted by the Republican Study Committee (RSC). In April, the RSC submitted a set of policy recommendations to Speaker Paul Ryan’s Task Force on Health Care Reform detailing the essential elements of a conservative Obamacare alternative.
In 2015, the RSC introduced the American Health Care Reform Act (AHCRA), which currently boasts more co-sponsors than any other Republican health care alternative. It was drafted by the RSC health care working group, led by Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) and Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA).
The shared priorities between the RSC’s policy recommendations on private insurance market reforms and the House’s health care proposal include:
• Repealing Obamacare. Since its passage, the Affordable Care Act has failed to deliver the lower costs, increased choice and stability Democrats promised. This year, even Obamacare’s silver plan premiums are expected to increase by 10 percent on average. To enact any effective reforms, we must repeal the president’s disastrous health care law.
• Reforming the Market to Improve Choice. A key component of the RSC’s plan is allowing people to purchase health care across state lines. This will improve choice and competition, resulting in more options and lower costs. The RSC also recommended allowing small businesses to pool together and form association health care plans, as well as encouraging wellness programs that focus on prevention.
• Expanding Consumer-Directed Health Care. The RSC’s plan recommended expanding health savings accounts (HSA) to allow consumers the flexibility and autonomy they need to make the best decisions for their health. The RSC proposed increasing the maximum contribution limit to an HSA, allowing spouses to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA account, and expanding eligibility and access for HSAs to groups that receive care through certain federal programs.
• Protecting Those with Pre-Existing Conditions. The RSC recommended expanding continuous coverage protections to the individual market that mirror protections already in place in the employer market, allowing for more portability and better care. Both proposals also establish high risk pools with certain consumer protections to ensure no one is priced out of obtaining health insurance.
• Protecting Life. The RSC has always held the firm belief that life must be protected. The RSC recommended ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to pay for services that end the lives of the unborn. We are pleased that the task force proposal shares the same commitment to protecting life.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – The Republican Study Committee (RSC) today welcomed Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) as its newest member after the RSC Steering Committee voted to approve Rep. Davidson’s membership application. Founded in 1973 and home to more than 175 Members, the RSC is the oldest and largest conservative caucus in the House.
Statement from RSC Chairman Bill Flores (TX-17):
“We are excited to welcome Rep. Davidson to the Republican Study Committee and are encouraged by the growth of the RSC in the 114th Congress. We have focused on bold, positive legislative reforms and detailed policy proposals, such as our fiscal year 2017 budget. All of these solutions have outlined a conservative vision for America. As the newest member of Congress, Rep. Davidson brings a unique perspective on the issues on the minds of Americans today and he will be a valuable voice in Congress.”
Statement from Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08):
“I am pleased to join the Republican Study Committee, which has a decades-long history of advocating for conservative voices in Congress. The RSC is known for their legislative analysis and track record of pushing Congress to the Right. I look forward to working with Chairman Flores and RSC members to advance our common goals and build a strong coalition.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, the House voted 282-138 to fully fund the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 2017. Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 5293, Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations:
“In an increasingly dangerous world, America is facing the growing global threat of radical Islamic terrorism that cannot and will not be ignored. The rise of the Islamic State and the recent attacks on Americans motivated by radical Islam make it clear that this is an enemy that knows no borders or boundaries. We must ensure our military has every resource necessary to meet this critical challenge, defeat radical Islamic terrorists and defend our homeland. Today’s vote fulfills Congress’s primary Constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense. Our men and women in uniform are the most sophisticated and capable in the world. Each day they commit their lives to defending our freedoms at home and abroad. In addition to thanking them for their courage and sacrifice, Congress today proved that they have our full faith and support.”
H.R. 5293 fully funds the Department of Defense for FY2017, providing a net total of $517.13 billion in base discretionary spending. This year’s bill appropriates nearly $3 billion more than the FY2016 level, reflecting the growing global threat American’s face. It halts dangerous readiness shortfalls, which have crippled the operations and maintenance of our ships, aircraft, ground vehicles and other vital equipment. It also provides a pay raise for our uniformed military personnel.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on H.R. 5053, the Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act, which passed the House today on a vote of 240-182:
“Today, the House passed critical legislation to protect Americans’ First Amendment right to free speech and assembly. The Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act will prevent the Internal Revenue Service from misusing or abusing personal donor information. While the Supreme Court has long upheld that states cannot compel non-profits to disclose their donor information, recent actions by the IRS, which targeted conservative groups’ tax-exempt status, as well as intimidation efforts by state attorneys general have reinforced the need to eliminate threats to the constitutional rights of non-profit groups. Today’s legislation will allow non-profits of all beliefs to continue to exercise their Constitutional rights.”
Background:
• H.R. 5053 was introduced by RSC member Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL).
• Tax-exempt, non-profit organizations are currently required to file Form 990 Schedule B that lists donors of more than $5,000 in the previous calendar year. In several well-documented cases, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees have leaked Schedule B information that contained personal donor information. For example, the National Organization for Marriage’s donor list was leaked to the Human Rights Campaign in 2012.
• In 2013, IRS official Lois Lerner admitted that the IRS withheld tax-exempt status for hundreds of conservative non-profits due to their ideological affiliation. This month - three years after news of the scandal broke - the IRS finally released a full list of the groups that were targeted.
• In the 1958 ruling NAACP v. Alabama, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the state of Alabama could not compel the disclosure of NAACP’s membership list.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman (RSC) Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the policy initiative released today by Speaker Paul Ryan’s Task Force on Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility:
“The new House agenda reflects a fresh approach to tackle our nation’s most difficult and enduring problems. Last month, the Republican Study Committee offered substantial policy input to each of Speaker Ryan’s six task forces charged with charting a new course for House Republicans. Our Empowerment Initiative gathered the best, proven conservative ideas to strengthen our safety net programs and restore hope to Americans struggling to escape poverty. Many of those ideas were incorporated in the House’s new initiative on Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility. In particular, we know that we can improve more lives by implementing work requirements, incentivizing strong families, allowing portability in housing assistance and combating fraud and unaccountability so programs better serve those who need them. The next step is turning these proposals into concrete pieces of legislation.
“Success is not measured by the number of people presently enrolled in welfare programs, but by the number of people who are able to permanently leave those programs because they have achieved a better life. I wholeheartedly commend Speaker Ryan and the Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility Task Force members, many of whom also belong to the Republican Study Committee, for their open communication and hard work on this important issue.”
Background -
Last month, the Republican Study Committee released its proposal “Strengthening Our Safety Net Programs by Empowering People.” The proposal, submitted to the Speaker’s corresponding task force, included key recommendations, such as:
• Streamlining Federal Housing Assistance
The RSC’s additional policy submissions include:
• Strengthening National Security. Submitted to the House Republican National Security Task Force.
• Creating an Environment for Jobs and Economic Growth. Submitted to the House Republican Reducing Regulatory Burdens Task Force.
• Fixing the Tax Code. Submitted to the House Republican Tax Reform Task Force.
• Patient-Centered Health Care Reform. Submitted to the House Republican Health Care Reform Task Force.
• Limiting Government and Reclaiming the Constitution. Submitted to the House Republican Constitutional Authority Task Force.
You can read more about all six policy submissions here.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman (RSC) Bill Flores (R-TX) today released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling that the Obama Administration should compromise to accommodate religious organizations’ objections to Obamacare’s overreaching contraceptive mandate:
“Today’s Supreme Court decision is an important win for Little Sisters of the Poor and their fellow petitioners. Charitable groups like Little Sisters of the Poor are called to service because of their religious beliefs, yet those same beliefs were violated by the Obama Administration’s agenda-driven contraceptive mandate. The Court’s unanimous decision sent a clear and decisive message that this Administration has once again overstepped its constitutional bounds. This case is only the latest illustration of why Congress needs to repeal and replace the president’s disastrous health care law.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – The Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) Empowerment Initiative has released its recommendations for an anti-poverty agenda that will modernize America’s social safety net programs and empower individuals through work. The new plan, “Strengthening Our Safety Net to Empower People,” was submitted to Speaker Paul Ryan’s Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility Task Force late last week.
The RSC’s Empowerment Initiative, previously called the “Anti-Poverty Initiative,” was established in the 112th Congress. It is currently co-chaired by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Rep. Todd Young (R-IN). The RSC’s recommendations draw on new, Member-driven proposals, as well as existing pieces of legislation.
Key Recommendations:
Eliminate Marriage Penalties. More than 30 percent of families headed by a single mother and 15 percent of families headed by a single father were living in poverty in 2014, compared to only 6 percent of married-couple families. Unfortunately our safety net programs frequently penalize Americans who marry by reducing their net benefits. We can encourage strong families and combat poverty by eliminating marriage penalties.
Implement Work Requirements. Work requirements have been proven to work at the state level, including in Kansas and Maine, yet federal work requirements enacted on a bipartisan basis have been gutted by the Obama Administration. We can do more to encourage a return to individuals in the workplace by implementing work requirements. Able-bodied adults without dependents should demonstrate they are working or preparing to work, through job training programs or volunteer work, to receive benefits.
Reform the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most effective methods we have to help low-income individuals transition into the workplace. However, the program is complicated and rife with fraudulent claims. EITC should be simplified by moving benefits from an annual tax credit to one paid in each paycheck. The RSC also recommends reducing fraud by requiring the Internal Revenue Service to better verify income and documentation.
Streamline Federal Housing Assistance. The federal government spends more than $50 billion a year on housing assistance for low-income individuals, but our programs are in desperate need of reform. The RSC’s recommends improving flexibility by making benefits portable, linking housing assistance with other related programs, opening up competition for public housing contracts and allocating funding to support drug recovery programs.
To read “Strengthening Our Safety Net to Empower People,” click here.
To read the RSC’s complete recommendations to the Speaker’s task forces, click here.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) today released the conservative caucus’s recommendations for House Republican’s six task forces established by Speaker Paul Ryan. The policy recommendations draw on RSC’s Member-driven initiatives and existing legislation to develop a detailed, targeted Republican agenda.
The RSC has a series of existing task forces, the membership of which has some overlap with the newly established House task forces. The RSC panels meet regularly to draft the caucus’s signature legislative proposals, including the Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0, the American Health Care Reform Act, and an upcoming proposal to tackle poverty and improve America’s social safety net programs.
Policy Recommendations:
Strengthening Our Safety Net to Empower People: The RSC’s recommendations focus on proven polices that build strong families and empower individuals through earned success and work. Recommendations include eliminating marriage penalties, reviving work requirements, streamlining federal housing assistance and reforming the Earned Income Tax Credit. Submitted to the House Republican Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility Task Force.
Strengthening National Security: The RSC’s recommendation is to first and foremost adequately fund our national defense at the levels required to address growing global threats, which is $574 billion in discretionary budget authority and an additional $59 billion for the Global War on Terror (GWOT). The RSC also recommends Congress and the Department of Defense commit to comprehensive acquisition reform to identify inefficiencies. Submitted to the House Republican National Security Task Force.
Creating an Environment for Jobs and Economic Growth: The RSC’s recommendations will spur economic growth and jumpstart job creation in America, improving opportunities for the 13.5 million people who have dropped out of the workforce since the start of President Obama’s first term. Recommendations include implementing a regulatory freeze and a regulatory budget, expanding domestic energy production, blocking cap-and-trade policies from the Environmental Protection Agency and alleviating the burden ill-conceived labor union policies place on employees. Submitted to the House Republican Reducing Regulatory Burdens Task Force.
Fixing the Tax Code: The RSC’s recommendations seek to create a flatter, fairer and simpler tax code. Recommendations include developing a business tax code that is agnostic to the industry being taxed, eliminating the marriage penalty in the tax code and updating the U.S. corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest among developed nations. Submitted to the House Republican Tax Reform Task Force.
Patient-Centered Health Care Reform: The RSC’s American Health Care Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 2653) is the most co-sponsored Obamacare alternative in the House. The RSC’s recommendations draw on our health care reform bill. They include leveling the playing field between individuals and employers by creating a standard, portable tax deduction, as well as allowing Americans to purchase insurance across state lines to increase competition. Submitted to the House Republican Health Care Reform Task Force.
Limiting Government and Reclaiming the Constitution: The RSC’s recommendations to restore the constitutionally limited role of government will result in a federal government that is more efficient and effective in its core functions. The RSC’s recommendations include stopping President Obama’s unconstitutional actions on immigration, defending Americans’ First Amendment right to life according to religious beliefs and employing Congress’s “power of the purse” to limit government spending. Submitted to the House Republican Constitutional Authority Task Force.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement in response to proposed draft legislation addressing Puerto Rico’s debt crisis:
“The discussion draft legislation regarding Puerto Rico's fiscal situation includes provisions that essentially provide for a federally forced restructuring the island’s debt. This approach is inconsistent with the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) position on this issue. The RSC has taken a clear position that unilaterally changing the rules to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal irresponsibility is the wrong approach.
“While the draft proposal does include some positive, pro-growth policies to restore Puerto Rico’s stagnant economy, such as reducing burdensome federal regulations, the draft bill still needs work to prevent a bankruptcy-style involuntary restructuring. We will continue to work with Chairman Bishop and House Leadership to amend the legislation so that it is consistent with the RSC's adopted position and conservative principles that are fair to all participants.”
In February, the RSC took a position against granting access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy for Puerto Rico “or access to similar forced restructuring of debt.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) and RSC Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) released the conservative caucus’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget proposal. Titled “Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0,” the plan balances the federal budget in eight years, reduces government spending by $8.6 trillion over the next decade, and restores America’s social safety net programs to solvency.
To read the complete Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0, click here.
To read Blueprint 2.0's Executive Summary, click here.
Key Features:
Balances the Federal Budget. Blueprint 2.0 balances the federal budget in just eight years, by 2024. In contrast, last year’s House budget balanced within a 10 year window. President Obama’s proposed FY 2017 budget never balances – ever. With national debt topping $19 trillionand interest rates soon set to surpassdefense spending, the Blueprint takes a serious approach to reigning in overspending.
Reduces Rampant Overspending. Blueprint 2.0 includes more than 200 specific spending reductions and reforms that will save taxpayers $8.6 trillion over the next decade. By setting base discretionary spending at $974 billion and prioritize spending to provide for our national defense, we can ensure a brighter fiscal future for our nation.
Strengthens our National Security. Blueprint 2.0 fully provides for our national security needs, so America can properly address the growing threats we face. This budget provides $574 billion for base discretionary funding in FY2017, along with $59 billion to carry out the Global War on Terror.
Promotes Pro-Growth Reforms. Blueprint 2.0 provides the principles for tax reform that simplify our sprawling, unintelligible tax code and make our system fairer for American families. The budget would set top tax rates at 25 percent, eliminate special interest tax breaks and loopholes and shifts collection duties from the scandal-plagued Internal Revenue Service to the Treasury Department.
Restores America’s Social Safety-Net Programs. Blueprint 2.0 takes robust measures to rebuild America’s social safety net programs so they empower individuals, serve those who rely on them and endure for future generations.
Repeals and Replaces Obamacare. Blueprint 2.0 fully repeals the president’s disastrous health care law and implements the RSC’s American Health Care Reform Act (ACHRA) instead. ACHRA would increase competition, lower costs, improve access to care, and level the playing field between families and employers when purchasing the health insurance plan that best fits their needs.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, the Republican Study Committee’s Budget and Spending Task Force, chaired by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), released an Executive Summary of the RSC’s FY2017 budget, “Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0.”
The RSC’s annual conservative budget receives a floor vote each year and has a strong record of introducing bold ideas that are incorporated in subsequent House budgets. The FY2017 budget will balance in eight years, compared to the House budget’s 10 year window in FY2016, and will reduce spending by $8.6 trillion over the next decade.
You can find last year’s RSC budget here.
The Republican Study Committee’s FY2017 budget will do the following:
Responsible Fiscal Path
National Security
Growing the Economy: Creating a Climate for Job Creation
Reform the Scoial Safety Net to Empower Individuals, Families and Communities
Real Health Care Reform
Save Medicare
Safeguard Social Security and Disability Insurance
Reclaim the Constitution
You can read the complete Executive Summary here.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court:
“The future of the Supreme Court should be determined by the American people and the Senate has an obligation to ensure their voice is heard. The Senate’s duty is to ‘advise’ the president, not to simply rubber stamp his lame duck agenda. Their role is a critical, Constitutional check to prevent the president from controlling the judiciary and to preserve the Court’s impartiality. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to stand firm, and to defer consideration of a Supreme Court nominee until the American people have elected a new president.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – The Republican Study Committee’s Budget and Spending Task Force today released an outline of the guiding principles any House budget backed by conservatives should follow. The task force, chaired by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), is currently drafting the RSC’s conservative budget proposal, set to be released later this month. You can find last year’s Blueprint for a Balanced Budget here.
Recommended Guidelines for a House Budget:
The budget should balance within ten years by reducing the size and scope of the federal government.
The federal government has grown to consume 21.2 percent of the economy this year, well above its historical average of 20.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under current law, the federal government will grow to 23.1 percent of GDP by 2026. The budget should reduce government spending closer to the historical average of revenues so that the budget can balance.
The budget should reduce mandatory spending.
Automatic mandatory spending is the main contributor to the ever-increasing debt that is driving our nation towards a fiscal crisis. Fifty years ago, mandatory spending comprised only about one-third of the federal budget; today, it takes up two-thirds. If we keep on the current path, that percentage will continue to grow. The budget should bring mandatory spending under control and return our social safety net programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, back to solvency.
The budget should reduce discretionary spending.
The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 promised to control discretionary spending, but hasn’t fully accomplished that goal. This year’s budget should reduce discretionary spending and restore sanity to our nation’s fiscal policy. One area to eliminate wasteful spending is among those programs that Congress has failed to approve. For the last several years, appropriations bills have contained hundreds of billions of dollars in unauthorized appropriations each year. This includes over $310 billion in FY2016, $290 billion in FY2015, and $301 billion in FY2014 – virtually all of it non-defense discretionary spending – that was not authorized by law.
The budget should ensure a strong national security.
America faces a multitude of challenges all around the world, including growing threats posed by ISIS, Iran, China, North Korea and Russia. The budget should provide full funding for base defense purposes, along with necessary funding for the Global War on Terror (GWOT) in Fiscal Year 2017. Over the next decade, funding for national defense should grow to ensure our men and women in uniform continue to have the tools they need to keep us safe.
The budget should reform and simplify our broken tax code to promote growth.
The U.S. tax code is broken. It is too complex, too unfair and too burdensome for American families and small business owners, stifling economic growth and opportunity. The budget should propose a framework for pro-growth tax reform that would make the tax code simpler, flatter and fairer, while removing special interest loopholes. Any tax reform plan should be measured using a realistic dynamic score that takes into account the positive economic effects of reform while keeping the tax burden low.
The budget should include pro-growth policies that remove government obstacles to recovery.
In recent years, wages have stagnated, more and more people are leaving the labor force, and economic growth has been too anemic to support the American dream for families and individuals. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office recently downgraded its projections for how the economy will perform over the next several years, specifically citing Obama administration polices as contributing to the problem. The budget should be focused on policies that get people back into the workforce, increase wages, clear out burdensome regulations and promote growth.
The budget should ensure that any reconciliation instructions are written so the procedure cannot be misused.
Reconciliation is a powerful tool that allowed Congress to put a bill repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood on the president’s desk. It allowed conservatives to show the American people that we will achieve these crucial goals under a Republican president in 2017. This year, any reconciliation instructions must be written to ensure we can implement a conservative agenda determined by Congress – not to prop up President Obama’s priorities in a lame duck administration.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) took an official position in support of a fiscal year 2017 budget that spends significantly less than last year’s Bipartisan Budget Agreement. RSC Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX), who heads the conservative caucus of more than 170 members, released the following statement:
The RSC Chairman takes an official position on an issue when the RSC Steering Committee Members, the RSC’s governing board, recommends it by a two-thirds majority vote.
The RSC is currently drafting its FY2017 budget, titled “Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0.” Last year’s “Blueprint for a Balanced Budget” was the group’s most conservative budget to date. It balanced within six years, prioritized a strong national defense and enacted reforms to restore solvency to America’s social safety net programs.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – The Republican Study Committee (RSC) took an official position today supporting pro-growth reforms to alleviate Puerto Rico’s debt, but opposing any congressional action forcibly restructuring debt or granting access to Chapter 9 to the U.S. territory or its municipalities.
“Puerto Rico’s mounting fiscal problems are the result of poor management and unsustainable policies enacted by local government and compounded by ill-conceived federal policies that hamstring the island’s economy,” RSC Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) said in a statement. “A direct taxpayer-funded bailout would not only cost Americans tens of billions of dollars, it would fail to address the root drivers of Puerto Rico’s debt. Additionally, while some have proposed settling the $73 billion government debt by granting the island access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy or forcing the debt to be restructured, Congress must not do so. Changing the rules mid-game would be unfair to Puerto Rico’s creditors who entered into these arrangements with agreed upon terms and would delegitimize future transactions. Instead, Congress should consider pro-growth reforms that will spur economic development and investment in Puerto Rico.”
The Republican Study Committee adopted the following position: “The RSC opposes granting access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy for Puerto Rico or access to similar forced restructuring of debt. The RSC does support enacting pro-growth reforms that would alleviate the burden that current federal policies place on the territory.”
The RSC Chairman takes an official position on an issue when the RSC Steering Committee Members, the RSC’s governing board, recommends it by a two-thirds majority vote.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, members of the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) overwhelmingly rejected President Obama’s proposal to close Guantanamo Bay, which prioritizes campaign promises over the safety of the American people. The plan would send up to 60 detainees to U.S. states, including South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado, and send 91 detainees to foreign countries.
Even as the president announced his plan, news broke that a former Guantanamo Bay detainee with alleged ties to ISIS had been arrested by Spanish authorities for recruiting fighters for the Islamic State. It is no surprise that nearly two-thirds of Americans opposed closing the facility.
RSC members reacted strongly against the short-sighted proposal:
“President Obama’s continued push to close Guantanamo Bay violates current law and is completely irresponsible given our ever-increasing global threats. His plan violates the will of Congress and of the American people. Closing Guantanamo Bay and transferring dangerous terrorists to communities in the United States endangers the lives of hardworking American families.” -Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (TX-17)
“The President’s plan will force the United States Military to make the impossible decision of following their Commander in Chief or following the law. This proposed transfer would be the second time President Obama directly violated the law on prisoner transfers. His arrogance is breathtaking.” -RSC National Security Working Group Chairman Trent Franks (AZ-08)
“President Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay and bring detainees to the United States will remain just that: a plan. One that should not be enacted. The President says this facility “undermines” our security. Does he think bringing terrorists to U.S. soil doesn’t?” -Rep. Diane Black (TN-06)
“Federal law is crystal clear that the Guantanamo detainees cannot be transferred to the United States, and our top military officers and even the Attorney General have said they will not violate that law. The President is delusional if he thinks we in Congress will agree to bring terrorists into the United States.” -Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02)
“Time and time again, Congress has spoken clearly on this issue by passing, with bipartisan, veto-proof majorities, legislation barring the transfer of detainees to U.S. soil. In fact, the most recent National Defense Authorization Act included such language and was signed into law by the President last November. Furthermore, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter have confirmed the law ‘currently does not allow’ Guantanamo Bay detainee transfers to the United States.” -Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04)
“There are real questions about recidivism – just today there are news reports that a released detainee was arrested in Morocco while recruiting for ISIS – but the administration’s answer is only vague promises of ‘trust us’. That is not enough assurance for me or for the American people.” -Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02)
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – The Republican Study Committee (RSC) today welcomed Scott T. Parkinson as its new Executive Director. Parkinson comes to the RSC from the office of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), where he served as the Deputy Legislative Director.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Scott to the Republican Study Committee team,” RSC Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) said in a statement. “The RSC is known for its dynamic and innovative policy proposals, which push the House toward the Right. I am confident that Scott’s extensive background in tax, budget and entitlement issues will serve the RSC well, and I look forward to all we will accomplish in the coming year.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement in response to the news that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away today in Texas:
"Justice Scalia was a man of great words, strong character and uncompromising principle. As one of the most influential and respected justices to ever serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, he defended the Constitution against those who would reinterpret and reinvent it to suit their political needs. It is impossible to overstate how much his service has meant to our country, or how keenly his loss will be felt. Gina and I send our thoughts and prayers to Justice Scalia's family during this difficult time."
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following response to President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget proposal:
“Once again, President Obama has proposed a big-spending, deficit-driving budget that places liberal special interests above America’s greatest needs. His $4 trillion proposal requests a $3.4 trillion tax increase and never balances – ever. With the national deficit already topping $19 trillion, this liberal wish list is dead on arrival.
“Instead of more overspending, we need a detailed plan to rein in the federal bureaucracy, cut regulatory red tape, spur economic growth and save our social safety net. The Republican Study Committee is currently working on a conservative budget that will bring Washington back to fiscal balance. To protect our nation’s future, Congress needs to take action – and the president needs to take notes.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the Obama administration’s proposed $10-per-barrel tax on oil:
“It is astonishing how out-of-touch the president is and the lengths he will go to distract Americans from his failed policies. A $10-a-barrel tax on oil will be dead on arrival in the House. It is clear that in his last year in office the president is more concerned with his radical climate policies and pleasing special interest groups than providing economic stability for hardworking American families. This proposed tax will do nothing more than raise costs on consumers, who are still struggling with stagnant wages. Rather than raising energy prices, the president should be working with Congress on a 21st century energy strategy to lower costs, improve our economy and achieve American energy security.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) today released the following statement on H.R. 3662, the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act:
“Today, Congress voted to strengthen sanctions on Iran in the wake of the Obama Administration’s naïve and reckless nuclear deal. Since the deal’s ‘adoption’ by the White House, Iran has demonstrated time and again its willingness to violate international agreements. It has flouted the international community, firing medium range ballistic missiles and growing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, while continuing its human rights abuses. Without consequence, the rogue regime has recently humiliated our men and women in uniform after propagandizing the capture of ten U.S. Navy personnel. Iran is not a nation we can trust. This bill will prevent more funds from going to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. The American people would be better served if President Obama would also take a stand against Iran’s unacceptable behavior, instead of making excuses for it.”.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, the House voted to override President Obama’s veto of H.R. 3762, the Restoring American’s Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015. Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement:
“It is unfortunate that President Obama seems more interested in protecting his failed legislation than protecting the interests of the American people. Despite his veto, Congress has shown that Obamacare can and will be repealed under our next president.”
Last year, the Republican Study Committee introduced the American Health Care Reform Act (AHCRA), a conservative health care reform plan that fully repeals Obamacare and provides a patient-centered alternative. It was introduced with more co-sponsors than any other Republican health care reform bill.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to the president’s State of the Union address:
“If President Obama listened to hardworking Americans as much as he lectures them, tonight’s State of the Union speech might have actually reflected reality. Instead, the president took an unearned victory lap, once again ignoring the true concerns and priorities of the American people.
“Many Americans feel less secure and less satisfied with the direction of this country than they did when the president took office. In just the last year, we have seen the rapid growth of a dangerous and evil terrorist state, a devastating attack on one of our closest allies, and terror-motivated attacks in U.S. cities. The president’s weak leadership and dismissive attitude have emboldened our geopolitical foes, who in turn have filled the vacuum. Tonight, the president praised his deal with Iran, even while at that very moment 10 U.S. sailors were being held by the Iranian military. Such disconnect is unacceptable for our Commander-in-Chief.
“President Obama’s record is not much better here at home. American families have suffered under Obamacare – the president’s signature legislative achievement. Rising out-of-pocket costs have made access to care unaffordable for many, even after they purchase insurance plans mandated by law. Wages are stagnant, meaning workers are paying more and making do with less. Today, because of the president’s policies, more Americans are living under poverty than ever before in the history of our nation. For the first time, parents are worried that their children will not receive better opportunities than they did.
“It is time to turn the page. It is time to deliver new solutions that do address the needs American families and taxpayers. House conservatives are crafting a bold agenda that will offer pro-growth policies and relief from Washington’s oppressive bureaucracy. I am confident we will introduce conservative, common sense reforms that ensure the coming years are far brighter than the last.”
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
House Passes Increased Sanctions After Hydrogen Bomb Reports
WASHINGTON – Today, the House passed H.R. 757, North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act, which passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 418-2. The bill expands existing sanctions against North Korea in response to allegations that the country recently conducted a hydrogen nuclear weapons test.
Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement:
“Recent reports that North Korea successfully tested a hydrogen nuclear bomb demand a serious and strong response from the United States. While the test’s authenticity remains in question, North Korea’s defiance of the international community and intimidation of neighboring states must not be tolerated. The North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act will allow the U.S. to block the individuals and financial sources who have aided the development of the rogue nation’s nuclear program. A long series of failed negotiations have proven that North Korea never intended to be an honest party. Now is the time for a strong American response to deter a nuclear-armed North Korea. Providing for America’s national security is the most important job Congress has and must remain our top priority in an increasingly volatile landscape.”
Tomorrow, the House will vote on H.R. 3662, Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act, which will strengthen sanctions against Iran after reported violations of the recent nuclear deal.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON - As Congress embarks on a new legislative year, the Republican Study Committee has released a new video new video on the bold challenges ahead of us.
From President Reagan's 1981 inaugual address:
“’On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rests the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.’
“…And as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom.”
You can watch the video on the Republican Study Committee's Facebook page.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s veto of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015:
“Today, the president had the chance to put politics aside and alleviate the crushing burden hardworking Americans are facing under Obamacare. Instead, he doubled down on his failed health care law. He has cemented his legacy as the president whose unsustainable policies inflicted higher costs, more anxiety and a dimmer economic future on American families.
“Congress has proven that Obamacare will be repealed. It is now our task to craft a new solution that will lower costs and improve access to care for all. We can only do that by restoring power to individuals and families – not federal bureaucrats – that should be in charge of their own health care decisions. The Republican Study Committee has been a champion for conservative health care reform alternatives and will continue to lead the discussion in 2016.”
Last year, the Republican Study Committee introduced the American Health Care Reform Act, a conservative health care reform plan that fully repeals Obamacare and provides a patient-centered health care reform alternative.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the House’s passage of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015, to partially repeal Obamacare:
“Today’s vote is a promise kept for the hardworking American families that are paying the price for Obamacare’s rising costs and many failures. By sending an Obamacare repeal bill to the president’s desk for the first time, we are fulfilling our commitment to voters to alleviate the heavy burden this law places on individuals, families and small businesses. After half a decade of this failed policy, this is the first opportunity for President Obama to correct his course, put politics aside, and sign this bill into law.
“The president promised to lower health care costs, but Americans have seen their out-of-pocket costs rise dramatically at the expense of employees and individuals. He promised, ‘If you like your plan, you can keep your plan,’ but millions saw their plans cancelled altogether. He promised to improve access to care, but prohibitively high costs mean that, for many, paying the individual mandate fine is still more affordable than buying health insurance.
“Americans deserve better, which is why conservatives have continued to fight for true patient-centered health care reform. Repealing Obamacare is only the first step. The Republican Study Committee will continue working toward competitive health care reform that levels the playing field, puts individuals and families back in the driver’s seat, lowers costs and improves access to care.”
• Last year, the Republican Study Committee introduced the American Health Care Reform Act, a conservative health care reform plan that fully repeals Obamacare and provides a patient-centered health care reform alternative.
• On November 12th, Chairman Flores called on the Senate to expand the reach of the House-passed reconciliation bill. “I urge the Senate to expand the scope of this partial Obamacare repeal package to cover as much of the law as is consistent with the Byrd Rule,” Chairman Flores said in a statement.
• In April 2015, Chairman Flores joined Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, in a statement calling for the Senate’s reconciliation tool to be used to repeal Obamacare. “We urge the budget conferees to consider the concerns of the American people who want to see this unpopular and detrimental law repealed once and for all,” the statement said.
• Earlier this year, the Republican Study Committee’s 2015 Blueprint for a Balanced Budget recommended Congress use the reconciliation tool to fully repeal Obamacare and implement conservative, patient-centered health care reform instead. The RSC was also influential in securing an early Obamacare repeal vote in 2015 to signal conservatives’ commitment on health care reform.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) voted in support of the tax extenders package, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 318-109.
Chairman Flores released the following statement:
“While this package is not perfect, it delivers many significant, conservative provisions that will improve economic opportunity. By making key pro-growth tax provisions permanent, this bill allows our nation’s small businesses and families to better plan for the future. Improving our tax code and providing stability are important steps to creating more jobs and better paychecks for hardworking Americans. This bill sets the stage for meaningful, pro-growth tax reform next year and gives us the opportunity to deliver the bold, conservative vision America needs.”
Earlier today, Chairman Flores released a statement highlighting the many conservative provisions in the tax extenders package. This month, the Republican Study Committee released an outline of their priorities for the tax extenders package. Those priorities included phasing out the wind and solar production tax credits (PTC), improving integrity for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) programs and preventing a taxpayer-funded bailout through Obamacare’s risk corridor program.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) today released the following statement on the tax extenders package that the House is set to vote on this afternoon:
“I am still in the process of reviewing the tax extenders deal, but the deal does include many positive conservative provisions. It makes permanent tax extensions that foster research and development, driving long-term economic growth and innovation. It reforms fraud-ridden tax programs, saving billions of taxpayer dollars. It also includes measures that will help America’s small businesses thrive, will ensure fairness for taxpayers and will support charitable Americans who give to those in need. In a solid win for conservatives, this bill omits a provision to open up more taxpayer funds to support Obamacare’s risk corridor program, despite a push from the White House and Democrats. The program, which has been called a ‘bailout’ for insurance companies, can currently only use funds from revenues collected from insurers.
“Unfortunately, the problematic renewable tax credits that previous packages have included will be extended for an additional five years in the omnibus. That is far too long for such costly and unnecessary programs.”
Earlier this month, the Republican Study Committee released an outline of their priorities for the tax extenders package. Those priorities included phasing out the wind and solar production tax credits (PTC), improving integrity for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) programs and preventing an expansion of Obamacare’s risk corridors.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – As the Paris climate summit progresses, the Obama Administration is pledging to send billions of taxpayer dollars to support climate initiatives abroad. Many Members of Congress, however, have made it clear they will not approve any allocation of funds until they at least review a final deal.
“President Obama’s promises at the Paris climate summit show just how out of touch he is with the priorities and concerns of hardworking Americans,” Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) said in a statement. “Obama officials are pledging $3 billion for climate projects overseas, but they are ignoring the fact that Congress, and not the president, holds the power of the purse. There will be no funding without congressional approval, especially for special interest regulations that will cost jobs and hurt economic growth. At a time when the world faces a growing terrorist threat, we should be focused first and foremost on providing for our national security needs - not the president’s pet projects.”
According to a recent poll, the majority of Americans – 53 percent – want Congress to have the final say on any international climate deals negotiated by the president.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON - Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015:
“I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for strengthening the House-passed reconciliation bill to repeal more of the president’s disastrous health care law. While this bill is a partial, not full, repeal of Obamacare, I am encouraged that the Senate moved to bolster the reconciliation package. There is still more work to be done, however. We will only have fulfilled our promise to hardworking Americans when we have fully replaced Obamacare with a health care plan that lowers costs, improves access to care and puts patients back in the driver’s seat.”
On November 12th, Chairman Flores called on the Senate to expand the reach of the House-passed reconciliation bill. “I urge the Senate to expand the scope of this partial Obamacare repeal package to cover as much of the law as is consistent with the Byrd Rule,” Chairman Flores said in a statement.
In April 2015, Chairman Flores joined Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, in a statement calling for language focused on Obamacare repeal. “We urge the budget conferees to consider the concerns of the American people who want to see this unpopular and detrimental law repealed once and for all,” the statement said.
Earlier this year, the Republican Study Committee’s 2015 Blueprint for a Balanced Budget recommended Congress use the reconciliation tool to fully repeal Obamacare and implement the American Health Care Reform Act, the RSC’s conservative, patient-centered health care reform instead.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) today outlined the conservative group’s priorities for the tax extender package Congress is set to consider before the end of the year.
“As the House prepares to consider several costly tax extenders, we must ensure that we craft a package that will spur growth, not subsidize ineffective programs or policies,” Chairman Flores said in a statement. “Special interest giveaways like the wind production tax credit (PTC) and the solar investment tax credit (ITC) have overstayed their welcome and their usefulness. We should allow these programs, which amount to the federal government picking winners and losers, to be phased out as scheduled.
“We must also improve the integrity and accountability for tax extenders that we may renew,” Chairman Flores continued. “We should not renew stimulus legacy items like the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the additional Child Tax Credit (CTC) without making significant improvements to the programs’ verification and oversight. Currently, these benefits can be easily acquired without proper identification or proof of legal status, leading to billions of dollars in waste and abuse each year. Once tax credit status is obtained, it is nearly impossible to revoke, perpetuating a cycle of tax fraud.
“Finally, we must maintain current law regarding Obamacare’s disastrous risk corridor program, which is essentially a hidden bailout for insurance companies. Hardworking American taxpayers should not have to pay for the financial failures of Obamacare. Any tax extender package – or omnibus funding package – that perpetuates the risk corridor program is unacceptable,” Chairman Flores concluded.
Contact: Caitlin Carroll
WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Bill Flores (R-TX) released the following statement in support of H.R. 4038, American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, which passed with a bipartisan, veto-proof majority:
“The devastating terrorist attacks in Paris last week proved that Americans and our allies are facing a vicious and nontraditional enemy that recognizes no geographic or moral boundaries. As reports of ISIS’s determination to spread terror in the U.S. and Europe continue to mount, it is imperative that we focus unwaveringly on America’s national security. As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), I stand with our 170-plus members who are committed to do all we can to protect and defend our homeland.
“Today, we took the first step by passing the American SAFE Act. This legislation puts a pause on accepting refugees until we can enact proper safeguards and background checks to fully verify their identity and intentions. Anything less would be irresponsible and puts American lives at risk.
“While the RSC and other House members are focused on securing our borders and providing for our defense, the president continues to refuse to admit that we are in the midst of a national security crisis. President Obama’s failed foreign policies and unwillingness to exert American leadership have exacerbated this crisis. Meanwhile, 31 state governors, both Democrats and Republicans, have rejected participation in the Refugee Resettlement Program because of the inherent risks that unvetted refugees place on their communities.
“The crisis of individuals fleeing persecution and destruction, however, is a symptom of the root problem we face: ISIS’s reign of terror in Syria and Iraq. The task is clear: we must join our allies around the world to not merely degrade or contain ISIS, but to eradicate it completely.”
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has served as the conservative caucus of House Republicans and a leading influencer on the Right since its original founding in 1973. It exists to bring like-minded House members together to promote a strong, principled legislative agenda that will limit government, strengthen our national defense, boost America’s economy, preserve traditional values and balance our budget.
The RSC provides the tools and research that members of Congress need to craft and advance policies that will benefit the American people. It also provides a forum for like-minded members to join together to support common causes and challenge the status quo. By doing so, the RSC ensures that conservatives have a powerful voice on every issue coming before the House, whether it is the economy, health care, defense, social safety net reform, or Washington’s dangerous, out-of-control spending.
We believe that the appropriate role of a limited government is to protect liberty, opportunity, and security, and that it is the responsibility of this generation to preserve them for the next. We believe that more government is the problem, not the solution, for the toughest issues facing our nation. We believe that there is no limit to the ingenuity, innovation, and prosperity Americans create when allowed to live their lives freely, according to their beliefs. We believe that with conservative commitment today, America’s brightest days lie ahead.
The Republican Study Committee has over 170 members in the 114th Congress.
Membership in the RSC is limited to current members of the U.S. House of Representatives. It added twenty-five new members from the class of 2015. A number of the nation's most influential Conservatives are former RSC members, including two former Vice Presidents, seven sitting Senators and two sitting Governors.
Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) is the current Chairman of the RSC. Flores was first elected to Congress in November 2010 and is currently serving his 3rd term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bill is a ninth generation Texan, representing the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
Before retiring to pursue public service in late 2009, Flores worked in the energy industry for nearly three decades, twenty years of which he served as a CEO, COO, or CFO. As a company leader and entrepreneur, Flores has firsthand experience in helping to create hundreds of good-paying American jobs. He also understands the problems that bad government policy and regulation can cause for American job creation and economic prosperity.
Bill’s mission in Congress is to restore America’s promise, prosperity, security, and exceptionalism for current and future generations. He works hard to achieve this mission every day.
The RSC has 11 full-time staff members who support the communications and policy missions of RSC members.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has served as the conservative caucus of House Republicans and a leading influencer on the Right since its original founding in 1973.
The Faith project aims to help Members of Congress and religious liberty advocates communicate about how important the work of faith-based groups are for our nation today, and how federal polices can affect these efforts. Over 45 million Americans live below the poverty line. Over 500,000 people in a single night experience homelessness in America. Over 15 million children live in households without enough to eat. American families, and families across the globe, are suffering. Despite more than 80 federal programs in place to provide federal welfare benefits at a cost of $1 trillion per year, the government is overspending and underperforming, and people are suffering.
At the same time, America’s religious institutions exist on shaky ground. Over the past decade they have faced repeated challenges to their very existence, including threats to revoke their tax-exempt status—the very thing that makes it possible for many of these organizations to do the good work that they do. In order for our government and Americans to truly understand the value of our religious community, we need to give a better understanding of how this community serves those in need and how much they provide to the social safety net in ways the government does not.
Contact: Jennifer Weinhart
The Republican Study Committee continues to lead the way toward turning this positive vision into action. The RSC Empowerment Initiative, led by Representatives Andy Barr and Todd Young, is a task force of RSC members focused on combating poverty and reforming the welfare system to empower individuals, families, and communities. The reforms recommended by this proposal would restore the opportunity to pursue prosperity for millions of Americans.
Eliminate Marriage Penalties: If a low-income person receiving government assistance marries an employed person, their welfare benefits would be reduced or eliminated, sometimes by an amount larger than income of the employed spouse. These policies encourage broken families. The RSC recommends that Congress take steps to eliminate these penalties against the single best antipoverty measure: marriage and a stable family structure.
Restore and Implement Work Requirements: Building on the success of the 1996 welfare reforms, all federal benefit programs should be reformed to include work promotion requirements that would help people move away from dependence and toward self- sufficiency. Programs would be strengthened with such incentives. To be eligible for benefits, able-bodied adults without dependents would be required to work or be preparing for work, including participating in educational or job training programs, community service, or a supervised job search.
Reform the Earned Income Tax Credit: The tax credit should be simplified. Allowing the credit to be paid concurrently with a paycheck (rather than once per year under current law), in addition to reducing the difficulty of filing a claim, could help simplify the program and reduce low-income individuals’ reliance on paid tax preparers, who often file fraudulent overclaims. Paying the credit over a monthly schedule will also improve monthly budgeting for Americans, rather than embracing the habit of spending an entire tax refund at once on a luxury.
Food Stamp Reform: This proposal recommends that the House Agriculture Committee put forward legislation that would authorize the food stamp program as a block grant to the states, with funding subject to the annual appropriations process. Nutrition assistance funds would be distributed to states based on a formula that accounts for poverty and unemployment in each state. States would have flexibility to administer their own programs, subject to the common sense requirements outlined below, and supplement federal funds with state funds.
Federal Housing Reform: The federal government spends over $50 billion per year on housing assistance and development programs.The two largest programs, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance, provide subsidies for tenants to pay rent and for housing units to be subsidized. These programs are in much need of reform, as evidence suggests that beneficiaries “do not experience substantial improvement in education or earnings” while receiving assistance.
Balances the Federal Budget. Blueprint 2.0 balances the federal budget in just eight years, by 2024. In contrast, last year’s House budget balanced within a 10 year window. President Obama’s proposed FY 2017 budget never balances – ever. With national debt topping $19 trillion and interest rates soon set to surpass defense spending, the Blueprint takes a serious approach to reigning in overspending.
Reduces Rampant Overspending. Blueprint 2.0 includes more than 200 specific spending reductions and reforms that will save taxpayers $8.6 trillion over the next decade. By setting base discretionary spending at $974 billion and prioritize spending to provide for our national defense, we can ensure a brighter fiscal future for our nation.
Strengthens Our National Security.Blueprint 2.0 fully provides for our national security needs, so America can properly address the growing threats we face. This budget provides $574 billion for base discretionary funding in FY2017, along with $59 billion to carry out the Global War on Terror.
Promotes Pro-Growth Reforms. Blueprint 2.0 provides the principles for tax reform that simplify our sprawling, unintelligible tax code and make our system fairer for American families. The budget would set top tax rates at 25 percent, eliminate special interest tax breaks and loopholes and shifts collection duties from the scandal-plagued Internal Revenue Service to the Treasury Department.
Restore America’s Social Safety-Net Programs. Blueprint 2.0 takes robust measures to rebuild America’s social safety net programs so they empower individuals, serve those who rely on them and endure for future generations.
Repeal and Replace Obamacare. Blueprint 2.0 fully repeals the president’s disastrous health care law and implements the RSC’s American Health Care Reform Act (ACHRA) instead. ACHRA would increase competition, lower costs, improve access to care, and level the playing field between families and employers when purchasing the health insurance plan that best fits their needs.
Supported by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, American Conservative Union, R Street Institute, Compact for America, and Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring
Stick to the Budget: Terms of Credit ensures congressional committees follow through on the savings laid out in the House- and Senate-passed budget. It directs authorizing committees to produce legislation within 90 days that will hit their pre-determined budget targets.
Robust Budget Process: If the authorizing committees fail to meet the 90 day deadline, Rules Committee, in consultation with all relevant committees, is given 30 days to allow for consideration of amendments that would meet the spending reduction targets. If still, after 120 days, both the authorizing and Rules Committees fail to come up concrete spending cuts, any member of the House can step up by bringing a privileged bill to the floor on the condition that it is a step toward hitting the spending cut targets.
Vote on Balanced Budget Act: The RSC’s plan also requires a House vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment by December 31, 2015.
No Adjourning Until the Work is Done: Congress’ habit of adjourning while appropriations bills hang in limbo has contributed to the series of budget crises Congress has seen in recent years. Terms of Credit would prevent Congress from adjourning after September 1st if the next year’s appropriations measures have not been passed by that deadline.
Foster Debate in the Senate: Under the RSC’s plan, Senate members would no longer be able to prevent debate on appropriations bills after the October 1st deadline has passed. Members would still be able to filibuster the bill itself, but may not block debate altogether.
21 Month Regulatory Freeze: Terms of Credit proposes a short-term freeze on burdensome federal regulation to spur economic growth and private sector investment. The freeze would be placed on all significant federal regulation through July 1, 2017, subject to health, safety, and national security waivers.
No “Midnight Rules”: Terms of Credit would prohibit “midnight rules” - regulations that agencies sneak in between a presidential election and the next inauguration. The Act would carve out exemptions for health, safety, and national security waivers.
Fully Repeals Obamacare: AHCRA goes into effect on January 1, 2016 and fully repeals the president’s health care law.
Increases Access to Affordable, Portable Health Insurance: AHCRA levels the playing field between people who receive their insurance through their employer and those who purchase it on the individual market by creating a standard deduction for health insurance. Under the RSC’s plan, individuals with qualifying insurance receive a $7,500 tax deduction and families receive a $20,500 deduction.
Expands Insurance Access for Vulnerable Americans: AHCRA ensures those with pre-existing conditions have access to health insurance by expanding federal support for state high-risk pools and expanding portability so Americans can easily move between insurance markets without fear of discrimination based on health status.
Spurs Competition Between Insurers: AHCRA allows people to shop for and purchase insurance plans across state lines, like other forms of insurance already allow. The plan also allows small businesses to pool together to negotiate for better rates.
Encourages Innovation: AHCRA establishes an eight year, $15 billion spending fund through the National Institute of Health (NIH) to develop biomedical breakthroughs in the five diseases that cost the most American lives each year: heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. It would also create a $1 billion prize, similar to the X Prize, for a cure to Alzheimer's disease.
Produces a Balanced Budget. The Blueprint balances in six years, resulting in a balanced budget in FY 2021. This budget would bring spending down to 18.2 percent of GDP and limit revenues to 18.2 percent of GDP, close to the historical average.
Enacts Pro-Growth Tax Reform. The Blueprint puts forth pro-growth, pro-taxpayer reform that is simpler, fairer, more competitive, and budget neutral on a dynamic basis.
Reestablishes Our National Defense. The Blueprint strengthens our national defense by providing $570 billion in base defense spending in FY 2016 and $6.4 trillion for national security over the next decade.
Reforms and Reduces Washington’s Spending. The Blueprint cuts spending by $7.1 trillion relative to current policy over the 10 year budget window. The budget sets total FY 2016 discretionary spending at $975 billion, with non-defense discretionary reduced to $405 billion for the fiscal year and reduced by a total of $1.3 trillion by FY 2025. Unnecessary mandatory spending, outside of key safety net programs, will be reduced by $1.7 trillion between FY 2016 and FY 2025.
Repeals and Replaces Obamacare. The Blueprint fully repeals Obamacare through the reconciliation process. It replaces the president’s unpopular health care law with the RSC’s American Health Care Reform Act.
Strengthens America’s Safety Net Programs. The Blueprint offers common-sense reforms to strengthen America’s safety net programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Disability Insurance and Social Security. By making changes that will restore these programs to solvency, we can ensure that they are there not only for current recipients, but for future generations.
The Republican Study Committee reviews every bill and amendment that the House votes on. The RSC inspects legislation for Conservative concerns including: expanding the size of the Federal government, violating Federalism, delegating authority to the Executive Branch and the presence of earmarks. Bulletins are exclusive to members for a short period.
The RSC maintains a resume bank to help member offices connect with qualified job candidates. The resume bank is not a job placement service: mass submissions of resumes are not accepted.
If you would like to apply, use the below link to contact the RSC and include the following information: your name, e-mail address, position you would like to apply for and your resume in a PDF form (LastName_FirstName_Position Seeking.pdf). Cover letters are not necessary. After submission, your resume will be placed in a database for RSC member offices to use - they will reach out to you at their own discretion. Please note that submissions that are missing any required information will not be distributed to member offices.
Please specify one of the following titles: Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, Legislative Counsel, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Communications Director, Press Secretary, Digital Director, Press Assistant, Scheduler, Staff Assistant, District Director, Case Worker or intern. We do not recommend that applicants apply for a director role or other senior position without previous relevant experience.