Early America First Wins to Expect in Congress

The United States Congress has a unique opportunity under the unity of governance to enact lasting change on behalf of the American people and move the America First Agenda forward. Congress plans to address many of the issues in the following sections, and unity of governance unlocks congressional tools for Congress to quickly complement President Trump’s actions at the executive level.

Reconciliation, a fast-tracked budget process that began in the Reagan Administration, is a legislative tool that brings both chambers of Congress to agreement on spending priorities. This process is only available when one party controls the executive and legislative branches of government. Each chamber of Congress must pass an identical non-binding budget resolution that provides instructions to congressional committees in both chambers about revenue and spending adjustments within its jurisdiction across the federal government and move priorities quickly forward. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is another legislative tool that allows Congress to undo unpopular administrative rules—in this case, from the departed Biden Administration. Undoing these rules would otherwise require hundreds of hours of time and agency action.

The Trump Administration continues delivering measurable and meaningful results on the America First Agenda, including border security and fighting illegal immigration, cutting onerous regulatory burdens, eliminating fraud and wasteful government spending, expanding economic prosperity, and empowering families.

The following outlines early America First policy wins that families across America could expect the 119th Congress to deliver, including passing CRAs or enacting policies in a reconciliation bill that will:

1) Prevent one of the largest tax hikes on the middle class by making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent.

Stop the highest middle class tax increase of this century

Failing to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that passed Congress in 2017 (TCJA), also known as the Trump Tax Cuts, that expire December 2025 means the marginal rate for taxpayers would increase for every American. This would come at a time when American families are still reeling after four years of debt, dependency, and deception under the Biden-Harris Administration. Policies from the Biden Administration left our nation with the highest inflation in 40 years, a doubling of the monthly payment of the median priced house in our country, record high consumer credit card debt, massive regulatory compliance costs, and more. Extending TCJA would spare Americans from what would otherwise be a historic tax increase inflicted at a time when people are still recovering from the aftereffects of historic inflation caused by years of reckless government spending and burdensome government regulation. AFPI policy experts highlight the need for extending TCJA in dozens of studies, but particularly in the Center for American Prosperity’s research report Pro-Growth Tax Reform Works: Evidence from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provides historical context on taxation and compares the failed economic policies of the far Left to a pro-growth America First approach.

Make the Trump Tax Cuts permanent

TCJA permanency has the potential to once again return our nation to the higher growth rates and lower inflation to levels witnessed during the first Trump Administration. According to AFPI’s Office for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis (OFRA), American families will face a significant tax hike without TCJA extension. This tax increase ranges from $700 to $7,240 annually depending on family size. OFRA’s analysis of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, H.R. 7024, from the 118th Congress highlights these savings. Making these provisions permanent provides the certainty that American businesses and families need to fully realize real wealth and affordability.

Cutting taxes boosts economic growth

TCJA lowered the corporate tax to a lower rate to boost economic growth. These permanent corporate tax reforms in TCJA produced a 20% increase in domestic investment. As AFPI research highlights, the result of the TCJA is that the real GDP grew at a 2.5% annual rate and rose by $2.3 trillion. Research estimates that the long-run domestic capital stock will continue and grow by 7% more, resulting in increased pre-tax wages on top of the direct boost to take-home pay from the tax cuts for individuals. Moreover, this analysis is without other pro-growth elements of TCJA, like the 20% pass-through deduction for small businesses. The way out of poverty is by increasing economic growth rather than more government programs.

2) Spend less government money.

Score for economic growth

Dynamic scoring is a form of economic modeling that the Congressional Budget Office could use to more accurately reflect the economic impact of public policy and ultimately help save taxpayer resources. Current policy scores do not measure economic growth rates. When making decisions about federal spending, members of Congress should receive accurate information on how these policy changes affect the economy, as OFRA’s dynamic scoring analysis highlights. Restoring House rules to score policies for economic growth would take full account of current policy.

Stop inflation

Inflation was at 1.4% at the start of the Biden Administration, and by October 2024, it was at 2.4%. More government spending does nothing to stop inflation or help to ease the costs of what American families pay for groceries or housing needs. Many Americans (67%) want federal spending returned to pre-COVID levels. Inflation is an invisible tax on all Americans, especially those struggling to get ahead. The Biden Administration discounted inflation as only temporary, and in 2024, President Biden went so far as introducing a budget that was over $6 trillion—representing a milestone as it was the first time in history when a proposed White House budget exceeded existing revenue. Economists and experts agree that inflation didn’t really take off until early 2021, when the Biden Administration insisted on spending another $1.9 trillion in Covid relief to take credit for the inevitable post-pandemic recovery. AFPI Fellow Andy Puzder highlights this historic overspending compared to other countries during Covid. Stopping inflation, as highlighted by AFPI’s Larry Kudlow, means cutting taxes, aggressive de-regulation (undoing harmful Biden-era policies), and unleashing American energy dominance.

Drain the swamp

An analysis by AFPI’s Center for American Prosperity highlighted that during the Biden Administration, the federal government was spending almost $1 trillion to service its debt, which is more than what our nation spends on national defense. According to an AFPI analysis, the longer we wait to address the federal government’s debt, the more damage will be done to our economy. This erodes our ability to defend our nation, improve the lives of American people, and fulfill our obligations to America’s seniors. Increased debt burdens will crowd out other important priorities for the American people. Aggressively reducing federal spending across the board reduces this burden immediately. According to an analysis by AFPI’s Office for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis (OFRA), a 20% reduction in the federal civilian workforce would result in $2.2 trillion in cost savings and more productivity. Moving parts of the federal government outside D.C. would further help to rein in the Administrative State and help to diversify the federal workforce

3) Supercharge job growth, sound money, and the U.S. dollar.

Opportunity Zones

The Opportunity Zones (OZ) program was created as part of the TCJA and continues to drive economic investment in underserved communities across America. AFPI’s Center for American Prosperity published a series of research papers, including an issue brief outlining implementation strategy for elected officials to maximize the positive impact of OZ tax incentives. The program allows investors to defer and reduce taxes on capital gains by rolling over those gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOF) that invest in qualified businesses in distressed areas. Investments flowed into a variety of projects (e.g., housing, manufacturing, real estate, and start-ups) from funds totaling $84 billion (as of 2022), all contributing to economic revitalization in some of the nation’s most underserved communities. Congress should renew this program and take it a step further, increasing and expanding OZ incentives in rural communities.

Reciprocal trade agreements

Reciprocal trade agreements are ultimately meant to defend American workers, innovation, the American spirit of entrepreneurship, and free thinking. American ingenuity, creativity, and capital markets are the envy of the world. The United States deserves to trade fairly with other free markets throughout the world and protect its intellectual property from others that abuse it. The President has every right constitutionally to enforce this process. Our current trade structure kills American jobs and sends them to other countries. This particularly relates to China, a people who are under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, a regime committed to slave labor. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has failed to enforce fair trading standards that members agreed to upon China’s entry, even turning a blind eye away from CCP’s practice of slave labor. China regularly engages in intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, disallowed industrial and commodity subsidies, and currency manipulation that unfairly advantages Chinese companies and devalues the dollar. American businesses and entrepreneurs are among the best in the world and if other countries are going to use import tariffs and non-tariff barriers to restrict access to their market or protect their industries from international competition, so should we. The U.S. Reciprocal Trade Act, introduced during the 116th Congress, would enable the President to freely negotiate with countries that impose higher tariffs on goods significantly higher than the rate that the U.S. imposes to bring parity, and, if unsuccessful, to match the rate with the rate applied by that other nation. An America First approach to trade should seek reciprocity between the conditions our companies confront when selling abroad and what other countries’ companies face when selling into our nation. Income from these tariffs can lower middle class taxes while making supply chains more resilient. Additional revenue generated by these policies could be used to fund enforcement efforts, reduce the debt and deficit, and should be evaluated as a pay-for during the reconciliation process. This revenue would be a first step to eliminate other taxes like income tax.

Aggressive deregulation boosts innovation

Onerous regulations are the real tax on the American people. Critical to supercharging job growth and accelerating the economy is the President’s regime of aggressive deregulation. For example, President Trump’s “day one” cuts to burdensome energy regulations puts America on a path to energy dominance. Further reforms to lengthy permitting processes, which have long been a drag on the nation’s economy, would make efficient use of capital investment and rebuild infrastructure. The first Trump Administration made substantial reforms to permitting as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) only to have the Biden-Harris Administration drastically reverse course. Multi-year approval processes with bloated and complex regulations prevent innovation and weaken economic growth. Further, the dismal performance of the Federal Reserve these last three years led to inflation reaching a 40-year high of nearly 9% because the Fed waited to start raising interest rates until after inflation exceeded 8%. Federal Reserve dividends to the Treasury in FY2023 declined more than 99%—just $581 million, compared to $106.7 billion in FY2022. Instead of carrying out its statutory mandate the Fed was distracted by how they could use bank capital regulation to impose a radical climate equity agenda. Congress needs to make clear that when a professional manages someone else’s money, their fiduciary duty is to realize financial performance, not to implement a far-left agenda disguised by acronyms like ESG. The Securities and Exchange Commission needs to focus on ensuring that financial innovation occurs in the United States rather than ceding digital asset and AI innovation to the Europeans and the Chinese. A modernized Reins Act, with adequate provisions and updates that would prevent Congress from grinding to a halt over votes on various Medicare rates, would go a long way to preventing excessive and runaway overregulation from administrative agencies.

4) End weaponized government and surveillance of every American.

Financial freedom

The Biden-Harris Administration promoted policies to allow IRS agents to snoop on your bank account and to create a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that would monitor spending habits of every American. Proposals like the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act introduced during the 118th Congress and again in the 119th would codify President Trump’s CBDC executive order and balance privacy with security. The Federal Reserve neither has the authority nor can it be trusted to create a retail CBDC, and such an act by the Fed would displace today’s private and community banks. The United States must never emulate the Chinese Communist Party’s social credit system with practices like Operation Choke Point 2.0 and forced “debanking” which weaponizes the American financial sector to punish citizens who disagree with the government by cutting them off from the economy. Encouraging American innovation, like through President Trump’s creation of a Bitcoin and Crypto Presidential Advisory Council and an American Sovereign Wealth Fund, helps to ensure that innovation and financial freedom continues for years to come.

End censorship

AFPI filed a lawsuit on behalf of President Trump in 2021 against “Big Tech” after social media companies censored and deleted President Trump’s digital presence along with millions of other conservatives. AFPI’s Instagram account was censored and deleted by Meta in early 2024. Policies that prevent government intervention, such as the AFPI-supported Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act introduced during the 118th Congress, protect Americans’ First Amendment right to free speech. Further, universities that engage in censorship or election interference should not receive federal funding. This also extends to the federal government colluding with the private sector to censor free speech, as was uncovered by the House Judiciary Committee during the 118th Congress between big social media companies and the Biden-Harris Administration. AFPI’s Center for Litigation filed a lawsuit against Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for colluding with private companies that censured free speech during COVID. Withholding federal funds from universities that practice censorship over free speech or for elections would go a long way to end the practice.

Fairness in legal proceedings

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of President Trump in 2024 was a violation of the basic principles of due process clearly motivated by political sabotage at the behest of New York Attorney’s General Letitia James (as outlined by research from AFPI’s Center for Litigation). Federal law has well established authority over subject matter jurisdiction found in Title 42. Creating a federal defense for federal acts would close legal loopholes, preventing what happened to President Trump, and stop future overreach by potentially hostile local courts, similar to the No More Political Prosecution Act, introduced by Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07).

End political prosecutions

The Office of Special Counsel Jack Smith used tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to investigate President Trump during an election year. Smith accessed these funds through an indefinite account authorized by Congress in 1987. The provisions of 28 U.S.C. 591 that established the office of independent counsel contained a sunset clause that lapsed in 1999; however, courts have held that “independent” or special counsel may access the fund via “other law.” Smith, a private citizen, was never confirmed by the United States Senate. Thus, the U.S. District Court in Florida determined his use of taxpayer resources was not legitimate. His office has spent tens of millions of taxpayer dollars––over $20 million by some accounts––from November 2022 to January 2025, all drawn unconstitutionally from this account. Adding guardrails to access these funds would prevent an administration from hiring another non-Senate confirmed “rogue” prosecutor and enabling them to pursue political opponents at any expense. Congress should consider codifying the decision by the U.S. District Court in Florida to maintain and ensure that special counsels do not waste taxpayer dollars on witch hunts.

5) Stop malign foreign actors from undercutting American workers.

Secure the border

The House passed the Secure the Border Act during the 118th Congress that included dozens of reforms to secure the border and bolster enforcement, including many policies put in place in the first Trump Administration. President Trump’s Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion proclamation, Securing Our Borders executive order, and dozens of other immigration policies strengthen our broken asylum system and empower the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill its mission to protect the American people. Fixing long-term problems with immigration policy, including legal immigration reform, rests on Congress. The Biden Administration took 94 executive actions that dismantled successful America First border policies within its first 100 days. Put simply, the crisis the American people endured under the Biden Administration should never happen again, and Congress can act to make that a reality. President Trump acted on day one to reverse those actions. Boosting funding to hire the necessary personnel (e.g., ICE and CBP agents), finishing the southern border wall, and funding the necessary technology and resources to secure the border in order to properly screen for terrorist sympathies are actions Congress can take to complement the President’s efforts, and follow guidance from AFPI’s Center for Homeland Security and Immigration. Boosting E-Verify compliance nationwide, closing loopholes in the asylum program, and illegal humanitarian parole programs would further help secure the border for good. Restricting foreign ownership of vital American infrastructure assets and forcing foreign owners to sell current holdings also helps to secure the border. Executive actions by the Trump Administration and policies passed by the 118th Congress have stopped the Chinese Communist Party from controlling more assets, but further enforcement of these actions is needed in states. Border security and ensuring a legal workforce are the most crucial ways to protect American jobs.

Stop the migrant invasion

The Biden-Harris era’s failed border strategy led to over 12 million illegal aliens who crossed our borders. What’s more, over 100 (that we know of) known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) were released into American communities under Biden. The Trump Administration recently announced the arrest of 219 known or suspected terrorists, which is a 655% increase from the same period in 2024 when 29 arrests were made under the Biden Administration. President Trump took several major actions, including proclaiming an invasion at the U.S. southern border, restricting migrants at the U.S. southern border, declaring a national border emergency and prioritizing a border mission in military plans and effectively closed the border on day one. Stopping incentives to cross the border, such as rescinding benefits, will further halt the migrant invasion. These policies include adding the death penalty for human traffickers, ending sanctuary cities, designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, ending birthright citizenship, and restricting health care, welfare, and tax benefits from going to illegal aliens.

Largest deportation effort

The Biden Administration never provided funds for border security but instead used resources to allow illegal aliens into our nation, bypass ports of entry using the illegal CBP One app and abuse legal definitions of asylum for entry. Critical funding from Congress to relevant federal agencies and agency personnel charged with executing on the President’s promise to deliver the largest deportation effort in history is critical to fulfilling this mission. Interior Enforcement—a core mission of the Department of Homeland Security and various other agencies—was severely diminished during the Biden Administration. In preventing funding for this mission and inaction on removing criminal aliens and elements of foreign espionage the Biden Administration facilitated the largest importation of human traffickers, murderers, rapists, and more in American history. President Trump, by invoking the Insurrection Act, mobilizes local law enforcement to assist in the massive undertaking of removing violent criminal illegal aliens. Foreign visas have also routinely been granted to students to study at American universities, with little oversight or fee increases. In 2024, Americans witnessed this lack of oversight on national television in the form of hostile antisemitic campus takeovers. The Trump Administration could prioritize revoking foreign visas from terrorism supporting students to make college campuses safer. Prioritizing the deportation of terrorists and criminal gang members would make our communities safe again.

Hold CCP accountable for their role in the fentanyl crisis

Most fentanyl precursors are manufactured in clandestine labs in China, with some coming from India. The House China Select Committee even found that the CCP directly subsidizes the manufacturing of illicit fentanyl through tax rebates and has given grants and awards to companies openly trafficking fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics. AFPI research revealed that only 48% of fentanyl was being intercepted between ports and 52% at ports, exposing false claims stating that 90% of seizures were at U.S. ports of entry. Law enforcement cited that cartels have a multi-pronged approach to smuggling fentanyl into our country. Cartels knew how to get through the gaping, unguarded holes in our border during the Biden Administration, with surveillance footage showing unlawful border crossers dressed in camouflage carrying backpacks full of illicit drugs over the border. Thankfully, President Trump’s day one border security actions secured the border. Policies like the HALT Fentanyl Act, Secure the Border Act, and restoring funds for border security and interior enforcement would stop the spread of drugs into our communities. Further policies that restrict foreign ownership and access to vital American infrastructure, tariffs, and restrictions on outbound investment would help level the playing field with the CCP.

6) Stand up to the woke mob by empowering parents and protecting womEn and children.

Ban child sex mutilation

Taxpayer dollars should not be used for gender transitions for minor children. The United States had the most permissive laws during the Biden era surrounding transgender treatments for children when compared to other Western nations. According to an AFPI analysis, only 12%-27% of children with gender dysphoria carry the condition into adulthood, despite receiving irreversible medical interventions that impact them for life. AFPI has supported state level initiatives that have banned public funds from use for medically transitioning minors, policies that Congress could follow. Congress could also hold big pharmaceutical and insurance companies accountable for their marketing of these treatments, by boosting oversight and investigations at the Department of Health and Human Services, which, at its current funding levels, has been unable to do so. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton already has several ongoing investigations.

Keep men out of women and girls’ sports

The Biden-Harris Administration’s revisions to Title IX in 2022, forbidding universities from discriminating based on gender identity, all but ensured biological males would have access to women’s locker rooms and sports programs, both at universities and K-12 levels of education. Thankfully, President Trump reversed these policies, and Congress is moving forward with legislation to codify these provisions. Nearly 70% of Americans believe that males have an unfair advantage over females in sports. Following President Trump’s executive order, there needs to be clear legal gender distinctions. The Department of Education under President Trump recently rescinded these Biden era rules and affirmed the judgement of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, allowing the Office of Civil Rights to restore protections for women and girls in sports. Congress should move to codify these changes as soon as possible along with defining the biological differences between men and women and pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Support parents’ rights over their children’s education

AFPI policy experts published a 10-point plan to help empower parents at the local level, including ensuring financial transparency in local school budgets, mandating the teaching of Western Civilization, American History and Civics, blocking Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in both teacher training and student curriculum, and preventing teachers from being rewarded or punished based on their commitment to a set of political ideals. Congress can adopt pillars that mirror what is being done by President Trump. AFPI supported the Parent’s Bill of Rights Act, H.R. 5, during the 118th Congress, which would mandate additional K-12 curriculum transparency, offer new privacy protections for students and notify parents about any violent activity in schools. The Educational Choice for Children Act in Congress would also further return power to parents by expanding educational options for children.

7) Keep more money in the pockets of every American.

No tax on tips, social security, or overtime pay

Extending President Trump’s tax cuts prevents wages from falling. According to an AFPI study, a family of four earning $60,000 could face a drop in their take-home pay of more than $3,200 a year. Further boosting take-home-pay for families is passing President Trump’s no tax on tips proposal, which could add more than $10,000 for families annually.

Invest in American workers

Americans have been working more to produce less, which isn’t a failure of workers—it’s a result of policy. During the first Trump Administration, according to a fact sheet produced by AFPI’s Center for the American Worker, productivity rose by nearly 5% before the pandemic. Recognizing out-of-state licenses for occupations, allowing workers to negotiate work styles, cutting housing regulations, and reducing overregulation like paperwork and other administrative requirements increase labor flexibility and overall productivity of workers. AFPI researchers identified that the Biden Administration’s regulatory agenda added nearly 280 million hours of paperwork and $447 billion in costs to American businesses. This equates to $2,847 in regulatory costs per American worker. Investing in American workers means improved workforce training at all levels. The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, Stronger Workforce for America Act, and College Cost Reduction Act would deliver those results. The Pro-Act would take labor in the opposite direction.

8) End Biden-era carveouts to the wealthiest one percent.

Energy carve-outs benefit special interests

New “green energy” tax credits were signed into law in 2022 as part of the far-Left’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), also known as the Big Government Socialism bill. These subsidies went to households earning more than $200,000 a year, while just 10% went to households earning less than $75,000 a year. In fact, according to IRS data, 15,930 people earning more than $1 million a year received nearly $100 million in energy subsidies in 2023.

The far-Left has a history of hiking taxes and repaying favors to wealthy elites

The left-leaning Tax Policy Center reported that President Biden’s overall tax plan, as part of his Build Back Better bill (which failed in 2021), would ultimately raise taxes on middle-class American families and give $32 billion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 5% of Americans. The establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in 2025 uncovered hundreds of millions of government payments to various groups and organizations, particularly as it relates to furthering the far-Left’s agenda. (See Appendix A.)

9) End the waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money.

Make DOGE permanent

With many Americans (78%) having to cut back on household spending in recent year, it makes sense for them to expect the same from government. Congress should codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and preserve its focus on cost-savings and runaway government spending. Bills related to appropriations, authorizations, the budget or spending should underscore the critical importance of taxpayer custodianship and transparency of all government spending. The America First approach recognizes the U.S. as the leader of the free world and prioritizes accountability to our citizens, meaning taxpayer funding should only be granted to institutions that align with American values. American foreign policy must always be backed by impactful actions and credible demands, as highlighted by AFPI’s Center for American Values in a 2022 research report. Congressional acceptance of a rescissions package from the Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget would make spending cuts related to USAID—which uncovered ties to CCP genocide in Xinjiang—and others permanent.

Protect the integrity of programs benefitting older Americans and those in need

Congress and the administration need to prioritize protecting the programs that Americans rely on, including Social Security and Medicare. AFPI has called for a four-step plan to protect Medicare and benefits for older Americans. It includes establishing site-neutral payment policies, ending the perverse incentives of Medicare’s bad-debt compensation program, tackling fraud, and recognizing the cost-saving benefits of preventive medicine and foods. Risk assessments should verify recipients of government safety net programs to prevent improper payments. Free taxpayer-supported paychecks should never substitute for able-bodied work, and reimposing work requirements for those who receive federal benefits should be a priority for government programs like SNAP and Medicaid, thus protecting the integrity of programs benefitting older Americans and those in need. Americans favor, by an overwhelming margin (81%), work requirements for those who receive federal benefits.

Biden-era provisions undermined programs benefitting Americans

AFPI research demonstrated the Biden Administration’s efforts to undermine Medicare Advantage by severely underestimating the costs for services in 2025 and offers additional solutions such as competitive bidding. The Wall Street Journal published these findings by AFPI’s Center for a Healthy America Chairman, Former Governor Bobby Jindal.

10) Reestablish American energy dominance and lower energy costs

Free up energy development

Energy prices soared under the Biden-Harris Administration and made it more difficult for American families to thrive. AFPI Center for Energy and Environment research demonstrated that gas prices were 39.7% higher under the Biden Administration and natural gas prices were 32.7% higher and electricity prices were 17.5% higher, and the overall costs of household energy prices were 22% higher under the Biden-Harris Administration’s heavy handed regulatory approach, compared to the America First efforts to unleash domestic energy dominance. AFPI research examining the impact of the cancelation of the Keystone pipeline found the revocation of a key permit for a U.S. stretch resulted in a loss of nearly 60,000 jobs and $3.4 billion in domestic economic activity. AFPI actively supported and hosted H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, that passed during the 118th Congress. The legislation opens federal lands and water for resource development and requires the Department of Interior to resume lease sales, offers streamlined permitting reforms, and confronted the Biden-Harris Administration’s war on domestic energy and eventually passed the House of Representatives.

Repeal electric vehicle mandate

The Biden-Harris Administration’s electric vehicle mandate would have completely banned gas-powered vehicles and was estimated to cost nearly 200,000 existing auto-manufacturing jobs nationwide. The most severe impact of this mandate being in the Midwest. Michigan alone will lose 37,000 jobs, Indiana will lose 24,000, and Ohio, 22,000. The Biden EPA finalized regulations in 2024 restricting carbon dioxide emissions from newly built cars, effectively forcing automakers to shift production toward electric vehicles. Conventional gas-powered vehicles could make up no more than one-third of newly built vehicles by 2032. Ford and Volkswagen report EV manufacturing requires 30% to 40% less labor than gasoline-powered vehicles. Moreover, about one-quarter of parts suppliers produce parts exclusively to gas-powered vehicles—jobs that would be largely eliminated by a shift to EVs. A recent AFPI report highlighted that for every green job created, three manufacturing jobs are lost. According to DOL data, 461,000 manufacturing jobs were created under the Trump administration, compared to 23,000 manufacturing jobs under the Biden-Harris administration since the pandemic. Additionally, DOL data shows 750,000 mining jobs were created under the Trump administration, while over 130,000 Americans lost mining jobs under the Biden-Harris administration. The Biden-Harris Administration’s tailpipe emissions rule would effectively serve as a “de facto EV mandate,” and destroy an estimated 117,000 auto manufacturing jobs. The Wall Street Journal highlighted AFPI research on this issue, citing the negative impact on union manufacturing jobs. Elements of this rule could still fall within the eligibility window for congressional CRA action and could be vigorously argued by supporters and allies. H.J. Res. 136, which would nullify this rule, passed the House during the 118th Congress and would save countless hours of paperwork and reverse rulemaking. U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also said that he will consider rolling back this harmful regulation.

Reduce reliance on foreign energy production

The Biden-Harris Administration’s harmful regulations have suffocated domestic energy production in red tape. They have made it more difficult to use federal lands and waters for resource production; banned LNG export permits; implemented excess royalties, fees, and taxes on U.S. energy production; were hostile toward hydraulic fracking; offshored the critical mineral industry; and allowed lengthy NEPA permitting processes. All this, coupled with the restrictive environmental regulations of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), has made the U.S. increasingly reliant on foreign energy and supply chains. Fracking alone demonstrates the upside that domestic energy production can create. AFPI research indicated fracking has saved American consumers $203 billion dollars, or $2,500 for each family of four annually. The same research indicates the practice of fracking creates family sustaining jobs, with annual wages for oil and gas workers ranging from $52,470 to $163,170, reduces greenhouse emissions, and blunts aggressive international efforts to weaponize energy against our allies. The IRA calls for an end to the radical one-sided agenda in place during the Biden Administration that forced American energy reliance on foreign adversaries.

Repeal onerous Biden-Harris regulations: The Biden-Harris energy tax, enacted as part of the Biden-Harris IRA, requires the EPA to collect an annual charge on emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases from the oil and gas sector if the emissions exceed specified waste emissions thresholds. Methane emissions above a low threshold were taxed $900 per metric ton — compared to a tax of $36 per ton of carbon dioxide. This rate would rise to $1,200 per ton of methane in 2025 and $1,500 in 2026, pushing the carbon equivalent price to $60. This tax was almost exclusively levied on companies that produce or transport oil and gas. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the tax was expected to penalize American energy companies to the tune of $6.35 billion over 10 years. Consequently, these heightened regulatory restrictions would make refining, transportation, and electricity generation more expensive for families across America. A provision nullifying this tax, H.J. Res. 35 of the 119th Congress, was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in March of this year. This provision reopens America to innovation and American energy dominance.

Support nuclear energy

Outdated and onerous federal regulations are hindering many segments of the nuclear sector from reaching their full potential. AFPI’s Center for Energy and Environment published a report in October 2023 recommending Congress take swift action to utilize the full potential of nuclear power and its role in reestablishing American energy dominance. First, AFPI recognizes regulatory reform in permitting, licensing, and the judicial review of new projects is necessary to make NEPA compliance more efficient, incentivizing new domestic mining and enrichment facilities. When compared to the rest of the world, there were 47,342 tons of Uranium mined globally in 2020, but in the U.S., only eight tons were mined. The U.S. is heavily reliant on foreign sources of enriched uranium and must expand its domestic supply chain. Second, APFI research points out the difficulty in licensing new advanced reactors. President Trump signed the NIEMA Act in January 2019 to reevaluate dated NRC regulations and incentivize the licensing of advanced reactors. However, the NRC’s ALARA standards have inhibited Congress’ intent to facilitate the deployment of advanced reactors via NIEMA and must be re-examined considering the latest science. Third, start-up fees must be reformed to spur financial relief for small companies looking to break into the nuclear power industry. Congress can amend how the NRC charges annual fees by raising them in line with comparable industries, like oil and gas pipeline builders, and adopting a proportional scale which ties the financial burden to a company’s growth. Fourth, congressional action, including reiterating the NRC's nuclear promotion mandate and using targeted appropriations, is required to fulfill Congress’ original intent to develop and increase the efficiency and reliability of use of “all energy resources.” Most of the NRC’s budget and staff are not actively engaged in licensing and inspection, and those who remain are reluctant to help private sector customers for fear of promoting nuclear energy. Lastly, regulations under Section 123 of the Atomic Nuclear Act of 1954 are inconsistent with current U.S. foreign policy, and assume all nations are potential proliferators of nuclear weapons, unless proven otherwise. Congress must rectify this inconsistency by amending Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which will adjust MNNA status to authorize nuclear exports along the lines of a Section 123 agreement, unless Congress or the President specifies otherwise. Countries that maintain a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. should also be eligible. This change will increase the number of available markets for U.S. nuclear industries, translating to profitability and providing benefits for American partners.

Restore U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The Biden Administration’s egregious mismanagement of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) ahead of the 2022 midterm elections was unnecessary and reckless. Simultaneously restraining domestic energy production on top of the SPR sitting at its lowest level since September 1983 means that our country remains dangerously ill-prepared for a real energy crisis. Unleashing American energy will alleviate the high oil prices that the American people are forced to pay in order to refill the SPR and exacerbates the need for Congress to move quickly on President Trump’s promises.