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2026-09-17T09:12:05-04:00 / Fox News

Advancing American Freedom’s ‘Affordability 101’ blueprint targets regulations, tariffs and subsidies ahead of midterms

By Kiera McDonald, Amanda Macias Fox News

Published September 17, 2026 9:12am EDT

Conservative group unveils affordability blueprint for Congress

Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at AAF, told Fox News Digital why they believe cutting regulations and expanding competition can lower costs.

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FIRST ON FOX: With control of Congress on the line and pocketbook issues dominating the campaign trail, a prominent conservative group is unveiling a sweeping affordability agenda aimed at giving Republicans a sharper economic message ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Advancing American Freedom report, “Affordability 101,” obtained first by Fox News Digital ahead of its Capitol Hill rollout Thursday, lays out more than 100 recommendations to lower the costs of housing, energy, food and healthcare by expanding supply, increasing competition and reducing government barriers.

The blueprint is a potential resource for Republican lawmakers and congressional staff while affordability emerges as one of the defining issues of the 2026 midterm elections. Founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, Advancing American Freedom argues costs can be lowered by reducing regulations, encouraging competition and boosting domestic production rather than creating new federal subsidies.

“We want free market conservative candidates to go out there and not just put on the red jersey or not just fight against the blue jersey, but to go there and give people ideas that actually work,” Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman told Fox News Digital.

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President Donald Trump arrives on stage to deliver remarks on the economy at the Rocky Mount Event Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Dec. 19, 2025.(Daniel Torok/Official White House Photo)

Chapman argued the size and scope of government plays a larger role in affordability than many Americans realize.

“The size and scope of the government matters more than people understand in terms of its impact on the economy,” Chapman said. “If you look at interest rates right now and how much of the skyrocketing interest rates are fueled by the debt and deficit problem, that’s something we need to be concerned about as Americans.”

Many of the proposals align with Trump administration priorities, including expanding domestic energy production, building more homes, reducing regulations and encouraging innovation.

But the blueprint also breaks with the administration on several issues.

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The blueprint argues that expanding domestic energy production and easing regulations on artificial intelligence and data centers can help lower costs.(Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

One flashpoint is Vice President JD Vance’s proposal to expand childcare subsidies by broadening eligibility under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), potentially providing some married families with a stay-at-home parent up to about $9,000 per child annually.

“His proposal sounds great, right?” Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital. “But the truth is, in many cases, it’s a $9,000 divorce bonus.”

On housing, the report says government regulations add 26.4% to the cost of a new single-family home and calls for permitting, zoning and land-use reforms to lower construction costs.

“I think those memos that deal with construction regulations and land use are the core group that would help affordability the most,” Stern said.

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The report is meant to give lawmakers concrete policy proposals they can take back to voters.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

The report also argues tariffs raise consumer prices, another point of disagreement with the administration.

“If you look at your grocery bill, how much of that is impacted by tariffs?” Chapman said. “That’s driving up the price of goods and it’s hurting people in their pocketbooks.”

The blueprint also argues that expanding domestic energy production and easing regulations on artificial intelligence and data centers can help lower costs. Trump has championed rapid data center development despite growing concerns over electricity demand and local impacts.

“The counties that have data centers are making money off of it,” Stern said. “They’re actually reducing energy prices for those homes.”

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As candidates sharpen their economic messages ahead of November, Chapman said the report is meant to give lawmakers concrete policy proposals they can take back to voters.

“We want people to have those solutions,” Chapman said. “When they go home and talk to their constituents about the future of the country, they can say, ‘I actually have an idea. Here’s an idea for getting interest rates down or here’s an idea for more small business growth.’”

Kiera McDonald is a Production Assistant for Fox News Digital.