On Nov. 5, 2024, former President Donald Trump was re-elected as president. While not all congressional races have been settled, Republicans have gained control of the U.S. Senate and have maintained their majority in the House of Representatives. With the Senate and House now under Republican control, a unified congressional majority will enhance President-Elect Trump’s ability to pursue his policy goals. 

Throughout his campaign, Trump focused on expanding consumer choice, reducing regulatory burdens and stimulating economic growth. Regarding health care, he vowed to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a better alternative, provide states more flexibility over Medicaid and reform key federal agencies, including the CDC, FDA and NIH. 

Next year, significant changes are expected in Congress’ most influential health committees, especially as several members with expertise on issues like healthy lifestyles, mental health, Medicare and drug pricing retire or lose their re-election bids. 

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees health insurance, biomedical research and drug and device safety, will see some of the most dramatic changes. Five of the 12 Democrats on the Health Subcommittee will not return: Ranking member Anna G. Eshoo of California, along with Reps. John Sarbanes of Maryland, Tony Cárdenas of California and Ann McLane Kuster of New Hampshire, all chose not to seek re-election. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware won a seat in the Senate. Rep. Eshoo has been active in efforts to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices and has advocated for increased biomedical research and broader access to health insurance. Rep. Cárdenas has championed the 988 suicide-prevention hotline and co-founded the Bipartisan House 988 and Crisis Services Task Force. 

On the Republican side, at least four prominent members will retire: Former Health Subcommittee Chair Michael C. Burgess of Texas, along with Larry Bucshon and Greg Pence of Indiana, will step down, as will full committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington. 

Rep. Rodgers has overseen the committee’s work on CDC oversight and, earlier this year, introduced a plan to reform the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with Rep. Robert B. Aderholt of Alabama. She has been an advocate for disability rights and co-chairs the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome. 

Rep. Bucshon, who worked on Medicare reimbursement issues, helped draft the 2023 organ transplant law and played a role in the 2016 opioid law. His efforts to reform diagnostic lab tests and replace the ACA with a Republican alternative, however, were unsuccessful. 

Meanwhile, the 118th Congress still faces several key tasks before the end of the year, including extending appropriations and reauthorizing numerous health programs that are set to expire after Dec. 20, 2024, when the current Continuing Resolution (CR) ends. Among the provisions at risk of expiring are those related to telehealth, Community Health Centers (CHCs), Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THGME) and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).  

Many Republican leaders are anticipating greater legislative control in the 119th Congress, which could influence how the current Congress addresses these issues. This may involve passing a comprehensive health care package during the “lame duck” session or extending funding through a more limited CR to carry programs into 2025. 

ACSM’s Health & Science Policy Committee will actively monitor the process of the new Congress to ensure that policies affecting public health, physical activity and sports science align with the organization’s mission to improve health and fitness across diverse populations. ACSM engages with legislators, advocates for evidence-based policies and tracks relevant bills and legislative initiatives to influence decisions that promote active lifestyles, enhance access to quality sports medicine and support scientific research in the field. By staying involved in the legislative process, ACSM works to shape a healthier, more active society while ensuring that the needs of athletes, fitness professionals and health practitioners are met in future legislation.