House Republicans are set to descend upon South Florida for their annual issues conference, where President Donald Trump is expected to speak and outline the GOP agenda for the next two years. The conference is being held at Trump National Doral, the president’s golf course and resort near Miami.
Trump is expected to address lawmakers on a range of issues, including the party’s push to pass a massive conservative policy overhaul using the budget reconciliation process. The process allows a party in control of both chambers to pass legislation with a simple majority, rather than the usual 60-vote threshold.
Lawmakers are also facing a debt ceiling deadline, which will be reinstated this month, as well as a looming partial government shutdown, which will occur if Congress does not extend the current funding agreement by March 14.
Speaker Mike Johnson has confirmed that Trump will address the conference, and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., expressed optimism about the priorities on the table, citing issues such as border security, tax policy, energy and defense, and national security.
Lawler, who has drawn a red line on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, acknowledged that the party’s slim majorities in the House and Senate make it crucial to have few dissenters. He expressed confidence that the conference would be a productive opportunity for lawmakers to hash out their differences and come together on a path forward.
