Progressive Caucus Unveils Policy Slate to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis

The caucus aims to unify the Democratic party around these proposals ahead of the 2026 midterms. The agenda targets the rising costs of essentials, including housing, groceries, childcare, and prescription drugs. CPC Chair Greg Casar argued that affordability is not merely a political slogan but a structural challenge that requires aggressive action against corporate interests he claims are exploiting consumers.

The 10-point plan includes the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act to produce generic medications and a federal initiative for universal childcare, championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Beyond daily expenses, the platform calls for broader economic reforms, such as guaranteeing paid vacation for full-time workers, raising overtime pay, and capping super PAC contributions to mitigate billionaire influence in elections.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, endorsing the package, framed the agenda as a necessary correction to an economy where 60% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck. Polling from Data for Progress suggests these measures hold broad appeal across the electorate, with mandates for paid time off and utility cost controls earning support from 79% of voters. Rep. Becca Balint, who leads the caucus’s Ending Corporate Greed Task Force, emphasized that the party must move beyond incremental changes to address the depth of public frustration over household expenses.