House Republicans have unveiled their 'Commitment to America' agenda that highlights the country's economy and education in an effort to shore up support for the midterm elections.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke to a packed crowd inside a manufacturing plant in southwestern Pennsylvania alongside Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.
Republicans' Commitment to America
They officially unveiled an agenda that focused on ramping up fossil-fuel production, curbing illegal immigration, and combating crime. For many Republicans, the platform feels like a turning point for their conference after four years of being stuck in the House minority, echoing their most salient campaign trail points against the Democratic Party.
Rep. Bryan Steil said Americans are getting crushed under one-party Democratic control, adding that they now have an opportunity to return to an economy that is strong. Steil helped draft the GOP's economic recommendations.
However, it is unlikely that many of the GOP's priorities, which include a parent's "bill of rights," hiring 200,000 police officers, and overhauling Social Security, could ever become law with President Joe Biden in office for at least two more years, as per Politico.
On the other hand, Republican leaders also stressed a focus that would be firmly within their control in a House majority, which is investigative powers. McCarthy, alongside Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan, vowed deeper oversight into China's role in the COVID-19 pandemic, the influx of Southern border crossings, and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Scalise, referring to the Homeland Security secretary, said that they would give Alejandro Mayorkas a reserved parking spot as he will be testifying much about it. The official's remarks were met by loud cheers from a crowd of roughly 150 supporters.
According to CNN, McCarthy's proposal also includes a plan to ensure that only women compete in women's sports. The "go small" approach is all over the Commitment to America and it is reflective of a few factors within the current GOP.
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Taking Back Majority
The agenda includes a slate of general policy recommendations in four broad categories; "An Economy That's Strong;" A Nation That's Safe;" A Future That's Built on Freedom;" and "A Government That's Accountable."
McCarthy told a crowd of supporters that the GOP wants an economy that is strong enough to allow citizens to fill up their tanks, buy their groceries, have enough money left to go to Disneyland, and save up for a future. He added that they aim to make paychecks grow instead of shrink.
The minority leader continued to say that the Republican Party has a plan for a nation that's safe, which means communities are protected, law enforcement will be respected, and criminals will be prosecuted.
The Republican lawmakers said that the agenda was formed with input from GOP members across the country with the explicit purpose of avoiding "top-down" party politics. The proposal follows the "Contract with America" agenda that helped former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with a GOP majority in the 1990s.
Officials said that the agenda is the culmination of more than a year of work, starting with the GOP-only "China Task Force." McCarthy compared that model and stood up several other task forces earlier this year, including on the economy, tech, health, energy, and more, Fox News reported.
