The country needs both the SAVE America Act and the bipartisan Congress-approved housing bill to become laws, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., told Newsmax on Monday.
Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Murphy said the chief obstacle to enacting the SAVE America Act is the Senate, not the House, and argued that advancing the legislation through a budget reconciliation package may be the only viable path.
"We're caught not by the House. We're caught by the Senate," Murphy said. "It is a Senate issue."
Murphy said including the measure in a reconciliation bill would allow Republicans to avoid eliminating the Senate filibuster, which he warned would have long-term consequences.
"If we're going to do this without nuking the filibuster, which I think would be absolutely disastrous for the future of this country, that's the way it's going to have to happen," he said.
The House has already approved the SAVE America Act multiple times, but the legislation has stalled in the Senate amid procedural hurdles and a lack of sufficient Republican support.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he wants to pursue another vote by including the measure in a third reconciliation package.
Murphy also urged President Donald Trump to sign the bipartisan housing bill recently transmitted to the White House after a week of procedural delays.
"I hope the president signs this," Murphy said. "This is a really important piece of legislation."
He said the bill would address the nation's housing affordability crisis by reforming the Department of Housing and Urban Development, reducing regulations on homebuilders, and limiting institutional investment in residential housing.
"We're cutting the regulation that really has strangled ... so many of the builders and causing costs to rise up," Murphy said, adding that the legislation was carefully negotiated on a bipartisan basis.
Trump raised concerns about the bill on Truth Social last week. Some conservatives also have questioned provisions added during Senate negotiations.
Asked whether he would support overriding a potential presidential veto, Murphy said he first wants to understand the administration's objections.
"I'd like to know specifically what the concerns are," he said. "Could they be addressed? Are they minor concerns? Are they major concerns and do they have merit?"
Murphy also criticized Democrats following New York City's Democratic Party primary, where the party's left wing gained renewed attention.
Responding to Democrats' claims that the party is a "big tent," Murphy argued the movement is increasingly driven by socialist ideas.
"Let's stop trying the smoke and mirrors," he said. "They literally want to take ownership of private companies. ... Big tent misery really for the American people."
Murphy said Republicans remain focused on advancing legislation to strengthen election integrity and lower housing costs while preserving Senate rules that protect the legislative process.
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