Jeffries Says Healthcare Tops Democrats' Agenda if House Flips

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries laid out four legislative priorities Monday that he said would have "uniform Democratic support" if his party wins control of the House in next year's midterms, with healthcare topping the list.

"We have to reverse the Medicaid cuts. We should extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits," Jeffries, D-N.Y., told NBC News. He also called for restoring congressional authority over tariffs and ending U.S. involvement in Middle East conflict.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said there is consensus that Democrats' symbolically important first bill, H.R. 1, would need to focus on affordability, with healthcare central to that effort. He argued the party should prioritize restoring hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid and ACA subsidies cut under Trump's tax and spending law.

Jeffries said Democrats have formed five working groups on affordability covering housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries and utilities, and pledged aggressive oversight of the Trump administration.

But divisions remain over how far to go. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said restoring Medicaid and ACA funds would "absolutely not" be enough, calling for action against "Big Pharma, insurance, private equity" in healthcare. A faction of the party favors a "Medicare for All" system, while moderates prefer less disruptive changes.

A source familiar with Jeffries' thinking said Democrats plan a phased approach: urgent priorities in the first 100 hours, more aggressive cost-cutting and investigations in the first 100 days, and broader goals over the first year.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., a moderate in a competitive district, backed starting with Medicaid and ACA fixes, noting any legislation would still need 60 Senate votes and the president's signature.

Democrats have held a consistent advantage on healthcare since 2018, when they last won the House. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found Americans trust Democrats over Republicans on the issue by 38% to 25%. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who could chair the Budget Committee, said Democrats would focus on "reversing the damage" from Trump's megabill, noting the Medicaid cuts will be just a month old when a new Congress convenes in January.