House Democrats say they would start a proposed agenda within the first 100 hours after the new Congress convenes in January if they win majority control in next month’s elections. Their plan pairs proposals on healthcare costs, Medicaid, tariffs and the Iran war with investigations of President Donald Trump, his family and his administration.
The proposed opening agenda
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who could become House speaker if Democrats win, said the party would come together “right out of the gate” to reinstate Affordable Care Act tax breaks, reverse Republican Medicaid cuts, vote against the Iran war and undo Trump’s tariff regime.
“Fighting for an affordable America — that's what unites Democrats all across the country,” Jeffries said recently at the party campaign headquarters in Washington. He said living costs had climbed too high and many people who work hard and play by the rules “can barely survive” in the Trump economy.
Democrats plan to hold an early vote to restore Affordable Care Act health care tax credits that expired in 2025, leaving millions of Americans facing higher insurance costs. They also want to reverse Medicaid cuts Republicans enacted through the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which paired tax breaks with program cuts and imposed new work requirements on recipients.
The party also plans measures to roll back Trump’s tariffs and pursue additional war powers resolutions aimed at ending military action in Iran. Democrats have already forced multiple votes to end the conflict, the article says.
Affordability and investigations
Months ago, Jeffries created 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 head the healthcare group, which is drafting policies intended to win support from all House Democrats.
Jeffries also told the top 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.”
Questions over party unity and scope
The agenda would test whether House Democrats can work together and avoid the divisions and disruptions that have hampered Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats haven’t controlled the House since 2023. If Jeffries takes the speaker’s gavel, he would be the first Democratic speaker since Nancy Pelosi, leading a new generation of lawmakers that includes several far-left candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said progressives want to pass legislation. Jeffries, Casar and other Democrats have stayed in contact with progressive candidates, many backed by the DSA, while the party works out shared priorities. Rep. Nikki Budzinski said Democrats want to show Americans that “Democrats know how to govern.”
Republicans cast Democrats as beholden to a far-left socialist agenda. If Republicans keep power, Johnson said they would continue the agenda pursued with Trump, focused on tax cuts and lower federal spending. The scope of a Democratic agenda would depend partly on the size of its House majority and whether Democrats also win the Senate. Trump would still have veto power. “We will not be able to fix everything overnight,” Rep. Troy Carter said.