04/17/2025

House Republicans to Begin Reconciliation Markup after Easter Recess

Key action is expected to start the week of April 28

House Republicans are preparing to begin marking up their reconciliation package as soon as Congress returns from its two-week recess, with key action expected to start the week of April 28.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) are aiming to complete the package before Memorial Day, setting up a high-stakes legislative sprint.

"By clearing this critical hurdle, House committees can now work in tandem with Senate committees to swiftly prepare their respective parts of the reconciliation bill, keeping us on track for markups during the next work period," Johnson said. "This process will require close consultation with the White House to ensure that the final bill reflects our shared priorities, resulting in a product that can pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Trump."

Because tax legislation must originate in the House, several key committees — including Judiciary, Homeland Security and Armed Services — are expected to lead the initial markup efforts, according to Punchbowl News. The influential Ways and Means Committee is likely to follow later.

This legislative momentum comes after the House approved the Senate’s amended budget resolution last week, clearing a major procedural hurdle. That vote provided GOP leaders with the vehicle they need to fast-track Trump’s policy priorities — including sweeping initiatives on border security, tax reform, and domestic energy — without the threat of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

However, differences are unresolved between the House and Senate over fiscal strategy, particularly around the cost of extending the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts. The Senate’s plan relies on a "current policy baseline," a budget tactic that assumes expiring provisions will be extended without adding to the deficit — effectively masking a nearly $4 trillion cost.

To secure passage of the budget resolution, House GOP leaders had to navigate intense internal negotiations.

• Many conservatives withheld support until they received assurances that the Senate would pursue more aggressive spending cuts.
• Now, with the reconciliation pathway cleared, Republicans must translate broad policy goals into detailed legislative language — all while keeping their coalition intact across both chambers.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.