The 115th Congress starts Jan. 3, and Republicans have a long list of highly contentious reforms to tackle in the coming year, according to a Monday Politico report.
The top of the list includes repealing and replacing Obamacare, an action Republicans have promised since President Barack Obama officially signed the Affordable Care Act into law in March 2010.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared the Senate’s first vote in the new session would focus on repealing Obamacare. The newest budget proposal would enable lawmakers to begin the controversial healthcare system’s shutdown.
The bill won’t repeal Obamacare, but it’s the first step in the process of figuring out a way to replace the system.
The other key priority Republicans face is confirming Trump’s appointments to the cabinet, a process Democrats plan to fight as long as possible. Senate Democrats don’t have the numbers to actually block any of Trump’s picks, but they do have the ability to force up to 30 hours of debate for each appointment, a feat that will limit the time the upper body of Congress is able to devote to other key issues.
Other smaller items on the agenda involve passing a bill called the “REINS Act” that aims to limit executive power after Obama’s legacy of using executive orders.
Also on the agenda will be re-electing Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and formally rebuking the United Nations for its vote to curtail Israeli settlements in certain parts of Palestine last week.
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