As Democrats seek to define a cost-of-living agenda ahead of the midterms, House members in the party’s left flank let loose an opening salvo Wednesday.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus laid out 10 prospective bills aimed at lowering the costs of prescription drugs, utilities, gas, child care, housing and more.

“This is the Progressive Caucus’ idea of what government should be doing for you every single day,” Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), the group’s chair, told reporters. “We think these ideas are not just progressive, but they are common sense. This is what all House Democrats should be able to unify around.”

Democrats have made “affordability” the centerpiece of their 2026 messaging, seizing on polling that shows broad dissatisfaction with the economy under a Republican trifecta.

Despite the success that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Govs. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey saw in using that agenda to win elections last year, House Democratic leaders have yet to outline detailed legislative plans for a potential turn in the majority.

That vacuum has left room for the left and center wings of the party to propose their own visions.

The centrist New Democratic Coalition laid out their “Affordability Agenda” earlier this year, and while the CPC’s “New Affordability Agenda” targets many overlapping issues, it also addresses key progressive priorities such as guaranteeing paid time off and abolishing super PACs.

During a news conference Wednesday, progressive leaders emphasized they want take on “corporate greed” as a vehicle to lower costs — an idea they hope will gain momentum with the party writ large.

Casar said he has been discussing these proposals with House Democratic leaders since he became the CPC’s leader in 2024. He called them “the kinds of consensus bills that we can govern on.”

“These bills win in Trump districts and Democratic districts and in swing districts all across the country,” he said.

The House floor has been frozen for more than an hour now as GOP hard-liners dig in against a procedural vote to move ahead with consideration of extending a government surveillance law, a farm bill and a budget blueprint for a party-line immigration bill.

GOP leaders have been seen huddling with holdouts on the House floor and have so far been able to flip Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, and Andy Biggs and Eli Crane of Arizona. Speaker Mike Johnson will need to flip several holdouts to be able to proceed.

Five Republicans, however, are still standing firm. That includes Reps. Troy Nehls and Keith Self of Texas, as well as Reps. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. GOP leaders have been seen in huddles with the hard-liners, several of which have still not voted. Though a few have since voted for the rule after talking to GOP leaders.

Many Colorado Republicans also haven’t voted yet, with several of them concerned about small refinery language added to a E15 sales bill that will merge with the farm bill upon passage.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will appear May 29 for a deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a panel spokesperson said Wednesday.

The announcement came after committee Democrats said they would pursue contempt charges against Bondi after she failed to appear for an earlier deposition as part of Oversight’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and the Department of Justice’s handling of the federal inquiry into the late convicted sex offender.

In a sign of Republican efforts to quickly preempt Democrats’ action, ranking member Robert Garcia of California was taken by surprise by the development during a news conference Wednesday morning to roll out the contempt resolution.

Since the bipartisan vote to compel Bondi’s testimony earlier this year, she has been ousted, and her former deputy, Todd Blanche, has assumed the role of acting attorney general.