Washington Update: Advocacy in Action—ASA and PHCC Push Industry Priorities Amid Budget Showdown on Capitol Hill

Last week ASA VP of Advocacy Steve Rossi joined PHCC’s 2025 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC as a session panelist, where over 100 PHCC members gathered to learn about current legislation and advocate for issues in common between the two associations, including workforce development, tax policy, and fuel choice.  It was a historic week in Washington, with Members of Congress in full swing in their efforts to pass ‘The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” better known as the budget reconciliation bill. 
 

Almost 100 meetings were held with a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives to advocate for issues relevant to our industry. Many of the tax issues, including the 199A deduction and full business expensing, were included in the final House version of the reconciliation bill.  It was a critical time for advocacy efforts as the bill passed the House at 4:30 AM with a 215-214 vote.  The House Bill was passed 215-214 at 4:30am on May 22^nd, after a marathon of late-night hearings and floor sessions that started the day before with a 1:00am House Rules Committee hearing to get the bill moving. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) voted against the bill, citing that spending cuts did not go far enough. 
 

In the Senate, the bill will likely go through extensive revisions, based on the chamber’s rules and a diverse group of political ideologies.  Several Senate Republicans have already indicated that they intend on restoring many of the energy tax credits and programs that were cut by the House.  Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) has already stated publicly that she wants the restoration of the Department of Energy’s Energy Star Program, that had been cut in the House bill along with WaterSense, a program overseen jointly by EPA and DOE.  In addition, the legislation will be subject to by the Senate Parliamentarian to make sure that the TCJA component complies with the Byrd Rule, while moving to floor votes and further negotiations with the House on upcoming changes will affect the timeline.  Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has proven skilled thus far on floor strategy and this will certainly be his Tour de force if the legislation remains on schedule.
 

The situation remains fluid, and further developments are predictable. Recently, the president of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, said that the bill could be passed by early summer.  Much remains to be negotiated, including existing and future tax credits, as well as making good on campaign promises such as no taxes on tips and overtime. Additionally, the current debt limit expires this spring, and President Trump wants a significant increase to remove obstacles to legislative progress and ensure Congress remains responsive to funding needs. The House bill includes a $4 trillion increase to the debt limit, which will also be a point of contention for some members of the Senate.
 

Regarding Tariffs:  The tariff situation remains fluid, with the U.S. Court of International Trade issuing a ruling on Wednesday that strikes down the President’s retaliatory tariffs with immediate effect. This ruling suspends all tariffs instituted under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), including the 10% blanket tariff for most trading partners and the additional tariffs related to fentanyl and border security. Notably, the ruling does not affect the President’s current tariffs under Sections 232 (steel and aluminum) and 301 (retaliation against foreign trade barriers), as they were implemented under separate provisions. The White House has immediately appealed the verdict, leaving the uncertainty surrounding tariffs unresolved.