GOP Reveals Plan To Reclaim Congress, Oust Nancy Pelosi As House Speaker

The GOP on Tuesday released 17 legislative promises in an effort to reclaim control of Congress and remove Democrat Nancy Pelosi from her position as Speaker of the House.

The “Commitment to America” contains multiple items and resembles the eight-point Contract with America that helped the Republicans retake the House in 1994 for the first time in four decades.

In the document, the GOP committed to defeating the coronavirus pandemic by tripling the numbers of rapid COVID testing and developing a safe and effective vaccine by the end of the year. They also promised to expand access to affordable medical services such as telemedicine, mental health programs, and opioid treatments.

House Republicans said they want to “restore our way of life” by opposing efforts to defund the police and increasing funding to improve police training and community policing.

The document comes amid protests across the country following the August police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kensoha, Wisc.; the May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police; and the March death of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by three plain-clothes officers serving a no-knock warrant in Louisville, Ky.

Another one of the Republicans’ pledges includes “rebuilding the greatest economy in history” by continuing the Paycheck Protection Program, extending the $2,000 child tax credit, and ending U.S. dependence on products manufactured in China.

“Republicans helped build the greatest economy in a generation, and the American way of life was thriving. We will do it again. That is our commitment to you,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said during a press release.

According to the New York Post, McCarthy is likely to be House Speaker if Republicans can win the majority of the House’s seats in the Nov. 3 general election. Currently, the Democrats have an advantage of 34 seats. The GOP currently has a four-seat advantage in the Senate.

The Republicans also promised to honor U.S. war veterans by funding the VA Choice healthcare program and expanding GI education benefits. They also pledge to strengthen the country’s military forces and secure the borders by enforcing immigration laws.

Other agenda points include a pledge to improve education by giving students school choice and investing in science, technology, and engineering education.