LEADERSHIP NOW PROJECT RELEASES A TO-DO LIST FOR CONGRESS FOCUSED ON LOWERING COSTS, STRENGTHENING COMPETITIVENESS, AND RESTORING TRUST

To-Do List draws on Leadership Now's Business Plan for America, which is backed by more than 400 business leaders across the country

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2026 — Today, Leadership Now Project released "Delivering for Americans: A To-Do List for the Next Congress," alongside its updated Business Plan for America. The to-do list highlights existing bipartisan legislative efforts that align with its priorities, offering the new Congress a starting point for action.

Developed by business leaders in collaboration with policy experts, the Business Plan for America is a governing framework for a competitive economy, broad-based prosperity, and a government that earns the trust of the people it serves.

"In the midterms, Americans sent a consistent message: they want lower costs and a government that is accountable to the people," said Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO and founder of Leadership Now Project. "American business relies on similar conditions — firms cannot thrive in a dysfunctional democracy, or in a society in which many feel shut out of opportunity. The midterms have reset the political landscape, and the new Congress has an opportunity to show that Washington can still come together to deliver for Americans. This plan provides a path."

The to-do list, along with illustrative recent bipartisan legislation, includes:

Lowering Costs

• Focus trade policy on lowering costs. Require congressional approval of tariffs imposed by the executive branch. (Trade Review Act, S. 1272)
• Build more housing. Direct federal incentives to states and cities that reform zoning laws to enable new construction. (21st Century Road to Housing Act, enacted July 2026)
• Make healthcare more affordable. Reinstate tax credits to lower health insurance premiums, reverse recent Medicaid cuts, and expand Medicare drug price negotiation. (Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, H.R. 5145)
• Reduce electricity costs. Build more transmission lines, speed up permitting, and require data centers to cover their electricity costs. (Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, S. 5653)
• Deliver tax relief for families. Provide relief to working families by expanding the child tax credit. (Stronger Start for Working Families Act, S. 3596)

Sustaining Our Competitiveness and Talent Advantage

• Lead on research and innovation. Sustain federal funding to keep the United States competitive in key industries, including science and medical research, and prevent political intervention into research awards. (FY2027 appropriations, extending the bipartisan September 2026 agreement, H.R. 6500)
• Keep America's edge in AI — safely. Require frontier AI companies to adopt safety evaluation criteria and critical incident reporting. (Frontier Act, H.R. 9925)
• Manage the AI transition and broaden its benefits. Incentivize employer-led, job-specific retraining, expand Workforce Pell Grants and apprenticeships, and explore models for sharing AI's benefits broadly. (Economy of the Future Commission Act, S. 4046)
• Meet workforce needs in high-priority sectors. Expand visa pathways to fill critical labor gaps in skilled trades and the care economy. (Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, H.R. 5494)

Building a Government That Delivers and Earns Trust

• End partisan gerrymandering. Adopt a national standard to end mid-decade redistricting and partisan gerrymandering. (Problem Solvers Caucus Gerrymandering Reform Framework)
• End political self-dealing. Ban members of Congress and the president from trading stocks or betting on prediction markets; extend conflict-of-interest laws to anyone acting on behalf of the U.S. government; establish enforceable ethics standards for the Supreme Court. (HONEST Act, S. 1498)

"These proposals tackle issues voters care about, and Congress can take action on them now," said Leadership Now Project National Advisory Board Member and Policy Committee Chair Kevin Brennan. "Getting them done would be an important first step in rebuilding trust in government and improving the lives of Americans. Business leaders across the country are ready to help make that happen."

The Business Plan for America draws on the expertise of Leadership Now's membership of more than 400 CEOs, senior executives, and board members. It focuses on what works for the country and the economy at large. Beyond the immediate congressional agenda, the Business Plan lays out a broad framework for the next president heading into 2028. The next president has an opportunity to define America's next chapter by translating the popular will into not just a winning campaign message, but a credible governing agenda.

The To-Do List for the Next Congress is live here, alongside the updated Executive Summary.

Businessplanforamerica.org 

About Leadership Now Project
Leadership Now Project is a membership organization of business and thought leaders committed to protecting democracy as the foundation for a thriving economy and long-term political stability. Through research, member engagement, and future-focused policy work, it advances ideas to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure America's global competitiveness.

SOURCE Leadership Now Project