Reconciliation Facts

Reconciliation Facts

Reconciliation is a legislative procedure adopted in 1974.

Since 1980, reconciliation has been used twenty-two times, with nineteen measures having been enacted into law since the procedure’s first use.

Eight of the reconciliation bills were initiated by a Democratic-controlled Congress.

Fourteen of the reconciliation bills were initiated by a Republican-controlled Congress.

Reconciliation was used by the Republicans for their Contract with America, Medicare reform, and their 2001 landscape changing $1.3 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest people in the United States.

Reconciliation was also used for health insurance portability (COBRA), nursing home standards, expanded Medicaid eligibility, increases in the earned income tax credit, welfare reform, the Children's Health Insurance Program, other major tax cuts, and student aid reform.