Rep. Bacon says he’s ‘most effective’ House Republican but has passed no laws this session
Nebraska GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, who ran in 2022 claiming that he would work to reduce inflation, has done little to address high consumer costs.

As Nebraska Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon seeks a fifth term representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District, his campaign website boasts, “In Congress, Don has been ranked the most effective Republican in the House, particularly on national security issues.” A review of his legislative proposals in the current Congress, however, reveals that none of the bills or resolutions he has authored have become law.
Bacon faces a competitive fight for reelection against Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas. The two previously faced off in the 2022 midterm elections, with Bacon prevailing 51.3%-48.7%.
Since Republicans took a narrow majority in the House of Representatives at the start of 2023, Bacon has introduced 55 pieces of legislation. Just one, a bill to override state gun laws and allow out-of-state police officers to carry concealed weapons without a permit, has made it to the House floor for a vote. That proposal passed in the House, but has not come up in the Democratic-led Senate.
Bacon’s 54 other proposals all await action in committees, despite their Republican leadership. Those include bills to boost Defense Department payments to military contractors, to authorize state governments to outsource the handling of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applications, and to provide tax breaks for certain people who work a second job.
Bacon also introduced a proposed resolution to censure Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, accusing her of a “history of antisemitism.” Bacon opposed a 2021 resolution penalizing Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over antisemitic remarks and conduct and has endorsed former President Donald Trump despite his long history of offensive comments about Jewish people.
In response to a request for comment, a staffer for Bacon noted that some of his proposals have been included in other legislation. Hours after the original inquiry, Bacon tweeted, “In the 118th, we have 8 bills signed into law, w/many more passed by the House, pending the Senate.”
Like other House Republicans, Bacon ran in 2022 promising immediate action to lower consumer costs and stop inflation. “President Biden and Speaker Pelosi have worked hard to make everything more expensive. While wages are flat, milk is up 16%, eggs almost 40%, and even bacon is up — and I take that personally,” he said in a September 2022 ad. “Nebraska working families need relief: full carts and more Bacon.”
Instead, the GOP-led House has spent most of the past 18 months on intraparty Republican feuds about who would be House speaker and what rules to adopt for debate, on right-wing social issues, and on a failed attempt to investigate and impeach President Joe Biden.
Even if they did become law, few of Bacon’s 55 legislative proposals would address the economy, and none would significantly affect consumer prices or inflation.