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Congressional Progressive Caucus unveils midterm agenda

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by Ryan Mancini - 04/30/26 11:03 PM ET

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by Ryan Mancini - 04/30/26 11:03 PM ET

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The Congressional Progressive Caucus on Wednesday unveiled their new agenda ahead of the midterm elections to demonstrate a path for how the Democratic Party can tackle cost of living issues facing millions of Americans.

The caucus dubbed their plan the “New Affordability Agenda,” a legislative package that would focus on making costs behind common kitchen table issues more affordable. The bills “would also ban companies from using personal data and AI to set prices, guarantee every full time worker paid vacation time, increase overtime pay, and abolish Super PACs,” the lawmaking bloc said in a statement.

Proposals in the package include establishing a government program to sell generic drugs at a discount, save the average family $500 a year on utilities by “cracking down on for-profit utilities overcharging consumers,” lowering gas prices by charging oil manufacturers a tax on extra profits coming from the war in Iran and lowering child care costs by guaranteeing families don’t pay more than 7 percent of their income.

Other proposals include building more housing and offering first-time homeowners $20,000 in down payment assistance. The agenda will also push to ensure all workers receive two weeks of paid vacation time and to require that companies pay double wages for overtime.

Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) told The American Prospect that the agenda was put together in response to perceptions that the Democratic Party no longer resembled how it operated during the New Deal era. He called the agenda “the tip of the spear,” and he said he has engaged with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and rank-and-file members about the package.

“After the 2024 election loss, Democrats from across the ideological spectrum were saying that we lost the trust of working people,” he told the outlet. “This is our chance to regain that.”

Reps. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) co-authored the package, though neither are part of the caucus.

Progressive Caucus Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said the package confronts “corporate price gouging and special interests that have pushed costs higher and taken advantage of the American people.”

“This agenda puts forward a clear strategy to make everyday life more affordable and deliver meaningful results,” she added.

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