Rep. Beth Van Duyne criticized the Senate on Thursday for what she called its failure to advance legislation passed by the House, while expressing support for continued efforts to pursue another budget reconciliation package as a standoff over the SAVE America Act continued.
Speaking on Newsmax TV's "Bianca Across the Nation," the Texas Republican said she remained optimistic that Congress could pass another reconciliation bill despite skepticism surrounding previous legislative efforts.
"I am not going to give up the fact that we could potentially be able to get another reconciliation package done," Van Duyne said.
Her comments came as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., continued leading a blockade on the House floor, refusing to back down until the Senate passes the SAVE America Act.
Van Duyne directed her sharpest criticism at the Senate, accusing lawmakers there of failing to match the House's pace despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress.
"I am disgusted right now with what's going on in the Senate," she said. "We have done so much work with a very narrow margin in the House."
Van Duyne contrasted the House's legislative schedule with what she described as Senate inaction, noting House members have held lengthy debates and overnight voting sessions to move legislation.
"We don't go home, we work, we continue to debate it out. We debate it well into the wee hours of the morning. We've had votes throughout the night. That's how you get policy done, is that you keep at it," she said.
She criticized senators for leaving Washington while House-passed bills remain pending.
"The fact that the Senate is going home, that they are doing whatever meetings, whatever fundraising that they're doing is very infuriating," Van Duyne said.
According to Van Duyne, the House has approved hundreds of bills that have stalled after reaching the Senate.
"We have literally sent over hundreds of bills to the Senate that have gone to die," she said.
Although she said she dislikes publicly criticizing fellow Republicans, Van Duyne argued Senate Republicans must do more to advance the party's legislative agenda.
"There's a number of my Republican colleagues who've been very critical. I hate being critical on Republicans. I don't think it's helpful to our party," she said. "But by the same token, you've got to do your job.
"You've got to get in there and you've got to debate. Stop going home."
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