New Congress: Democrats prioritize healthcare and Iran war end

House Democratic leaders will begin the new session with a focus on healthcare and the war with Iran.

The party aims to pass legislation that boosts Medicaid and restores enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. These early votes are scheduled for the beginning of the next Congress, which swears in on January 3. Democrats also plan to act quickly on bills to stop the conflict with Iran and reverse specific trade tariffs. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is positioned to become the next House speaker, stated that the group intends to get out of the gate fast.

The Democratic majority will exceed 250 seats in the 435-member House. This numerical advantage makes passing bills in the chamber manageable. However, getting those bills signed into law presents a different challenge. A 60-vote threshold in the Senate stands as a major obstacle. President Donald Trump also holds the power to veto legislation. On election night, Trump posted a photo of a red hat with the word VETO on his social media site.

Democrats are working to reverse changes to Medicaid that are expected to cut more than $900 billion from the program over the next decade. Republican-approved cuts in a tax and spending bill signed into law last year helped offset costs. Those changes added administrative requirements and eligibility conditions, including work requirements. According to KFF, a health policy research organization, Medicaid enrollment has dropped by about 5 million people, or roughly 7%, since July 2025. Reversing these cuts would require the White House and Senate Republicans to abandon provisions they fought hard to include in their signature tax bill.

The effort to extend enhanced tax subsidies for ACA plans has faced previous hurdles. The measure passed the House with some Republican support but stalled in the Senate. Lawmakers have also held numerous war powers votes regarding Iran, with 14 occurring in the Senate and six in the House.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota predicted that a Democratic majority would lead to two years of paralysis. He stated that this outcome would not be good for anybody. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, however, insists that Democrats will push their agenda regardless of presidential cooperation. Schumer said in an interview with The New York Times podcast The Daily that if the president vetoes bills, it will show the divisions in government. He noted that when the government shut down for a month over healthcare, people knew Democrats were on their side. Schumer believes Democrats can gain some Republican votes on restoring ACA subsidies. He said he is getting initial signs of willingness to work on certain issues, though not every issue.

Progressive groups view the current agenda as a good start but expect more. Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said it is fine if the Senate and House are unified while Trump stands in the way. He argued that this sets up another tidal wave election in 2028. Green stated that Democrats will need to get rid of the filibuster to pass their top priorities. He noted that Republican priorities like tax cuts and Supreme Court justices can pass with simple majorities, while Democratic priorities require 60 votes. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas wrote in a memo to the Congressional Progressive Caucus that Democrats must target powerful forces outside of government, such as corporations using private data for pricing and AI companies putting jobs at risk. Casar said this approach will show Americans that Democrats are pro-worker and pro-consumer, not just anti-Trump.

Schumer declined to say in an interview with the Associated Press whether he would try to eliminate the filibuster. He said the focus has got to be on getting things done. The votes in Congress will help frame the choices voters face during the 2028 presidential election.