100 Days in Power: How House Republicans Have Used Their Majority so Far

President Joe Biden recently signed into law a measure that ended the national emergency enacted in 2020 in response to the pandemic. It was the second time he had approved a bill launched in the Republican-led lower chamber of Congress. Despite Democrats retaining control of the Senate after the 2022 midterms, the Republican-led House of Representatives has seen success in passing six of the eleven major bills they promised just before the 118th Congress first convened on Jan. 3, in addition to two Republican-initiated bills signed by Biden.

House Republicans have also succeeded in holding oversight hearings to increase accountability, bringing attention to areas of the federal bureaucracy that were previously ignored under the previous Congress. Despite major challenges, Republican elected officials, advocates, and campaign strategists expressed enthusiasm for what has been accomplished in less than three months.

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist commended House GOP leaders for avoiding infighting predicted by the media and for building a case against Democrat rule in the White House and bureaucracy. Key to this cohesion, according to Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), has been the inclusive approach taken by House GOP leaders that has included all voices in big discussions, including freshman representatives.

Overall, the House GOP majority has accomplished some wins, but the biggest battles still lie ahead, particularly on the debt ceiling and government funding issues. Republicans will need to compromise, but Democrats will need to compromise as well.

Republican strategist Brian Darling emphasizes the need for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to pass a bill to set a marker on the debt ceiling and spending cuts, and include at least 10 spending cut/policy riders in the bill that Democrats can focus on, making the negotiation about the riders rather than the basic bill framework.