The House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday urged Republican lawmakers to use the remaining weeks of the current Congress to advance key conservative legislation, warning that inaction would hand leverage to Democrats, who are set to take control of both chambers in the next session.
Explainer Health Care Realities: Cost, Ethics, and Reform Challenges in America
Leaders of the group said the GOP must deliver on long-promised reforms, particularly on health care and border security, or risk losing the trust of voters and ceding ground to Democratic priorities. The caucus, which includes 31 members such as newly elected House Minority Leader Jim Jordan and is chaired by Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, has positioned itself as a leading voice for conservative reforms within the Republican conference.
The push from the Freedom Caucus comes in the wake of Republicans losing control of both the House and Senate in recent elections. Members of the caucus attributed these losses to what they described as unmet campaign promises and a failure to deliver on core issues important to their base. The group is now pressing for a final legislative push before the new Congress is seated.
Health Care and Legislative Priorities
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., was among those voicing frustration with the party’s record on health care. He criticized Republicans for failing to repeal or reform the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Burlison pointed to rising health insurance costs, stating, “The average family in America is paying $28,000 a year in health insurance premiums, premiums that have doubled and tripled over the last 20 years, since [the] passage of Obamacare.”
Burlison argued that Congress should adopt proposals previously backed by former President Donald Trump, which he said would return premium dollars to families and reduce federal involvement in health care decisions. He warned that without action, the alternative would be a “one-size-fits-all bureaucratic nightmare,” referencing concerns about increased government control over health care.
He cited polling that indicated six out of ten Americans viewed health care as a top issue in the recent election, but said Republicans had failed to act despite years of promises. Burlison also warned that Democratic plans for a "Medicare for All" system would further increase federal control over health care, a direction he said many conservatives oppose.
Calls for Urgent Action
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., echoed the sense of urgency, saying Republicans were punished at the polls for not delivering on their agenda. "We had an opportunity to go big and we didn’t do that and now we’re going home," Crane said. He added that the party needed to learn from its losses and questioned whether the GOP would heed the lessons of the election. “We’ll find out over the next couple of months if we learned anything from this massive loss that we just took,” he said.
Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., emphasized the limited time left for Republicans to act, noting, “Fifty-three days is the time remaining for Republicans to unite and to deliver for the American people.” Harris said the party must use this period to pass the remainder of its "America First" agenda and protect existing conservative policy wins before Democrats assume control.
Border Security and Legislative Strategy
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., called for Republicans to remain in session until the final day to codify their legislative victories. “There is no excuse for wasting a single day,” Miller said. She credited President Trump with taking executive action on border security and spending, and called on Congress to make those policies permanent through legislation.
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, outlined the caucus’s priorities for the remaining days of the session. These include passing the SAVE America Act, codifying Trump-era border policies, and confirming as many presidential nominees as possible before the transition. “No packing up early. Codify President Trump’s border policies. Under no circumstances, amnesty. Act fiscally responsible for once. Pass the SAVE America Act,” Self said, summarizing the caucus’s legislative goals.
Democratic Response and Next Steps
Democratic leaders have not publicly responded to the Freedom Caucus’s demands. However, the caucus warned that Democrats, once in control, would pursue expanded federal spending and oversight. They urged Republicans to "clear the decks" and remove any leverage points before the transition to Democratic leadership.
The Freedom Caucus’s call for action comes as Republicans face internal pressure to fulfill campaign promises and as Democrats prepare to advance their own legislative agenda in the next Congress. The coming weeks are expected to be pivotal as both parties position themselves for the new legislative session and seek to define their priorities for the coming years.
