Millions of Americans face higher insurance costs after Affordable Care Act tax credits expired in 2025. House Democrats say they’ll try to restore the credits if they win control in next month’s elections. Their agenda also includes reversing Republican Medicaid cuts, challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs and advancing votes against military action in Iran. Yet a narrow majority, continued Republican control of the Senate or Trump’s veto power could block much of what Democrats propose.
Who Pays for the Decisions
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the party would unite “right out of the gate” around its proposals. Speaking at the party campaign headquarters in Washington, he described people “working hard, playing by the rules” who “can barely survive” and are “drowning” in what he called the Trump economy.
The party plans to launch its agenda in the first 100 hours after the new Congress is seated in January. Its broader 100-day program would focus on affordability and oversight of the Trump administration. Democrats say inflationary costs from the Iran war and other policies have become concerns for voters. The proposals address those costs, but they remain campaign promises, contingent on Democrats winning the House and, for some measures, on the Senate.
Republicans enacted Medicaid cuts through the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which paired tax breaks with program cuts and added new work requirements for recipients. Democrats want to reverse those cuts. They also plan an early vote to restore health care tax credits that expired in 2025, leaving millions facing higher insurance costs. A vote alone won’t change who controls those decisions.
The House Agenda and Its Limits
Democrats also plan to pursue measures reversing Trump’s tariffs as Congress seeks to reclaim power from the White House. They intend to press the administration to end military action in Iran by advancing more war powers resolutions. Democrats have already forced multiple votes on ending the conflict.
Jeffries directed ranking Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees to prepare investigations into Trump, his family and his administration as part of an anti-corruption effort. He has said impeachment is neither on nor off the table. “We need to lower the cost of groceries and gas. Two, we need to make healthcare affordable for every single American. Three, we’re going to hold the crooks accountable who’ve visited unprecedented corruption on the American people,” Jeffries said. “Beginning on day one.”
The agenda’s reach would depend partly on the size of a Democratic House majority and whether Democrats also win the Senate. Trump would keep his veto power. Usamah Andrabi, a spokesman for Justice Democrats, said, “We cannot simply go back to the status quo.” Rep. Troy Carter acknowledged the limits: “We will not be able to fix everything overnight.”
A Party Organizing Its Own Ranks
Months ago, Jeffries formed five working groups focused on healthcare, housing, groceries and goods, gas and utilities, and caregiving. A progressive and a centrist Democrat lead each group. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama lead the healthcare group, which aims to develop draft policies that all House Democrats can support.
Democrats haven’t controlled the House since 2023. Jeffries, who is in line to become speaker if the party wins, and Rep. Greg Casar have contacted progressive candidates, many backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Casar said, “The Freedom Caucus breaks things. But if you’re a progressive, you want to pass things.” Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski said Democrats want to show Americans that “Democrats know how to govern.” The machinery they hope to run remains bounded by elections, congressional control and a presidential veto.