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MAIN STREET CAUCUS RELEASES DEBT CEILING PRIORITIES

April 13, 2023

Washington, D.C. — Today, Republican Main Street Caucus Chair Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) & Vice Chair Stephanie Bice (R-OK) requested that Speaker McCarthy include several caucus priorities in any debt ceiling deal proposed by the U.S. House. The priorities include three pillars: Save Taxpayer Money, Reduce the Deficit, and Grow the Economy.

“In recent weeks, the 70 members of the Republican Main Street Caucus have discussed the options you’ve identified, as well as some others.  This letter outlines those proposals that have garnered the most support from our caucus, and we have every confidence they can secure 218 votes in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Johnson and Bice.

“Over the last 70 days, President Biden has refused to negotiate a reasonable and sensible debt ceiling increase with you.  We know these negotiations will be incredibly difficult, and you will continue to have our full support as you work to get our fiscal house in order.”

The Main Street Caucus priorities include the following:

  1. Save Taxpayer Money
    • COVID Funds – Capture $70 billion in unspent COVID funds.
    • Student Loan Forgiveness – Reverse the White House’s unconstitutional $600 billion student loan forgiveness decision.
    • Non-Defense Discretionary – Return FY24 non-defense discretionary spending to FY22 levels.

  1. Reduce the Deficit
    • Non-Defense Discretionary – Limit the growth of non-defense discretionary spending to 1.5% a year for the next ten years.
    • Mandatory Spending Commission – A bipartisan panel should have 6 months to propose solutions increasing the sustainability of Medicare and Social Security. These solutions will not include cuts to Medicare or Social Security benefits. Additionally, the commission should identify unnecessary mandatory spending unrelated to Medicare and Social Security, and direct those savings toward strengthening those two programs. The findings of the commission should be privileged and receive a floor vote within 60 days.

  1. Grow the Economy
    • Work Requirements – Improve American competitiveness by closing SNAP work requirement loopholes that have been abused by states.  Work requirements would not apply to pregnant women, parents with young dependents, those with disabilities, or seniors.
    • American Energy – Enact H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to stimulate the economy and protect America’s energy security. Highest priority should be given to those provisions related to permitting reform.
    • Reducing Regulatory Overreach — Congress must reassert its oversight of the rulemaking process by requiring specific congressional authorization of major rules packages via the REINS Act.

Read the full letter to Speaker McCarthy here. For a full list of Main Street members click here.

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