House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that Republicans are pressing ahead with a third budget reconciliation bill focused on combating fraud and reducing the cost of living, even as their second package was still working through the Senate.
Johnson confirmed the next effort as Congress advanced the second reconciliation measure, a border and immigration security bill that funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The Speaker said the third package, informally dubbed “Reconciliation 3.0,” is next in line regardless of the setbacks the second bill encountered.
“Setbacks on Republicans’ second filibuster-proof package in Congress are not deterring them from pursuing a third focused on combating fraud and affordability issues,” Johnson said.
Republicans have already passed two budget reconciliation packages this Congress. The first was the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut taxes and reduced federal spending. The second focuses on immigration enforcement funding. Johnson has said he wants to get a third bill to the floor before the end of July, ahead of the November midterm elections.
At a recent Republican caucus meeting, members discussed potential components of the new measure, including Defense Department spending, additional tax cuts, adjustments to federal benefit programs, and a core focus on fraud and the cost of everyday goods. Four congressional sources with knowledge of those discussions confirmed the priorities under consideration, according to Politico.
The Politico report on the House calendar noted that the “ever-tightening calendar has further imperiled” Republican hopes of passing another major bill before voters go to the polls, despite Johnson’s stated confidence.
Republicans said the third bill would give the party an economic message to bring to voters in November, contrasting with Democratic criticism that the previous reconciliation packages cut spending on health care and domestic programs.
