Pappas-Backed Bills Included in Problem Solvers Caucus Bipartisan Affordability Agenda
Legislation led by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) is a part of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus’s Affordability Agenda, a comprehensive proposal to lower the cost of living in the United States. The framework received overwhelming support from members of the caucus, which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
“I’m hearing from people across New Hampshire that the cost of living is too high, and they want Congress to do something about it. No party has a monopoly on good ideas, and I will work with anyone if it means getting results for families, seniors, and veterans,” said Congressman Pappas. “As a proud member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, I’m glad that commonsense, bipartisan bills that I lead and back are growing their support and were included in the Affordability Agenda. These bills provide a roadmap to provide immediate relief to Granite Staters and address root causes of high prices to bring down costs. We should vote on them now.”
Included in the Affordability Agenda is legislation Rep. Pappas co-leads or cosponsors, under each of the five key areas of household budgets:
- Housing
- The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would support the financing and development of affordable housing by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
- The Accelerating Home Building Act, which would support local governments in speeding up the permitting and home building process and lower costs.
- The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act, which would improve veterans’s access to VA home loans.
- Child Care
- The Early Childhood Educator Expense Deduction (SEED) Act, which would provide tax relief to early childhood educators by allowing them to claim the same federal tax deduction currently available to K-12 teachers.
- Groceries
- The MODERN WIC Act, which would make the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) easier to access by allowing families to complete certifications and receive benefits remotely.
- Energy
- The LIHEAP Staffing Support Act, which would establish a minimum adequate staffing threshold to administer Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
- Health Care
- The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which would modernize the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage to ensure seniors can access care without unnecessary delays.
The framework identifies commonsense policies that can deliver immediate relief across five key areas of household budgets: health care, housing, energy, child care, and food. Each recommendation enjoys broad bipartisan support and is capable of passing both chambers of Congress. The framework also identifies the root causes of persistently high prices, making clear that bringing down costs in the long term will require tackling the structural forces pushing prices higher. Read the full framework here.
The Problem Solvers Caucus is a group of Members of Congress — split between Republicans and Democrats — committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation. Over the coming months, the Problem Solvers Caucus will meet with congressional leadership, Members and Senators across committees of jurisdiction, industry leaders, and stakeholders across the political spectrum to build consensus on the solutions outlined in this agenda. By working across the aisle, the Problem Solvers Caucus aims to deliver immediate cost relief for families while laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient economy for generations to come.