Democrats have already proven we can deliver on affordability

It’s hard to ignore the biggest challenge facing working families. Prices are ticking up at the grocery checkout at every visit. Gas costs well over $4 a gallon — even higher in some places. It was more expensive to run the air conditioner this summer. Medical bills are rising, and housing costs continue to increase while inflation is moving faster than growth in wages. It’s no surprise that both parties have been trying to make the 2026 election about affordability.

Republicans, however, can’t deliver. They’re fixated on a war of choice that’s spiking the price of oil, on spending billions to unleash poorly trained ICE agents on our communities, and on giving President Trump and those closest to him sweetheart deals and immunity from prosecution. They’re even doing everything they can to make the affordability crisis worse. They’ve taken the largest axe to Medicaid in history, supported tariffs that cost families thousands of dollars more a year, and made insurance costlier by refusing to extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act .

More and more, the common refrain is that Washington simply isn’t showing up for working families — because it never does. That cynicism is exactly what Republicans bank on. Convince people to throw their hands up and believe neither party can or will do anything for them — all while riling up their base with sensationalized arguments about social and cultural divisions.

That refrain is wrong. I know that Congress can deliver on the economy because that’s what Democrats proved four years ago. In August 2022, when I was House majority leader, Congress sent President Joe Biden the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to sign.

The first invested tens of billions of dollars in rebuilding American manufacturing and strengthening supply chains in order to bring consumer prices down. The second targeted energy prices, lowered healthcare costs, made it cheaper and easier to file taxes, and required the largest companies finally to pay their fair share. In one month, our Democratic majority delivered more on affordability, innovation and accountability than the Republican majority has in nearly four years since.

We had tight voting margins and profound disagreements — but we still governed effectively. The 117th Congress, which was held from 2021-2023, remains one of the most productive in modern history. The two affordability and economic-development laws we enacted in August 2022 were only part of that story.

In November 2021, Democrats achieved what Republicans had promised for years but never delivered: a bipartisan infrastructure law that put more than half a trillion dollars toward creating jobs, upgrading water and energy systems to keep consumer costs down, and making high-speed internet less expensive for rural and underserved communities. When we held power, Democrats implemented our Make It In America plan that invested in creating jobs, lowering costs for families, and building the infrastructure a modern economy needs to compete and grow.

For Americans who are struggling with high prices, it can be easy to tune Washington out, to write Congress off as a broken institution. But that’s exactly why people need to engage and participate. Judge those in power by what they do with it when they have it. Reward those who meet the moment — and reject those who can’t.

I’m retiring at the end of the year after more than four decades in Congress. I’ve seen progress and paralysis. I’ve experienced the warmest collegiality and the coldest confrontation. When I think back to what we achieved in the 117th Congress — on what Democrats were able to deliver for the people on affordability and economic progress when we held power — I’m reminded that closely divided government does not have to mean ineffective governing. When leaders are willing to seek consensus, make tough choices, and stay focused on improving people’s lives, Washington can and does deliver.

So, let’s make sure the next Congress is led by those ready to roll up their sleeves, work together despite party labels, and meet the high expectations Americans ought to have for those in power. Frankly, we can’t afford not to.

Steny H. Hoyer represents Maryland’s 5th District and served as House majority leader in the 110th, 111th, 116th and 117th congresses.