House Democratic leaders are placing an early emphasis on health care as they discuss their immediate priorities upon the swearing in of a new Congress on Jan. 3.
Early votes in the House next year are expected to focus on boosting Medicaid and restoring an enhanced tax subsidy for Affordable Care Act health plans. Democrats are also promising early votes on legislation to stop the war with Iran and to reverse some of President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the next House speaker, and he is promising Democrats will "get out of the gate fast."
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, and the new Congress will be sworn in on Jan. 3. The health care push, the Iran war legislation and the tariff votes are the first items the new majority plans to put on the record.
The planned early votes would set the tone for the new majority in its first weeks, with health care first on the agenda and the promised legislation on Iran and tariffs following close behind.
