By Atish De

On Wednesday, January 5th, the members of the 112th United States Congress convened for the first time. The new Congress will feature a change in leadership in the House of Representatives, as Republican John Boehner replaces Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. Additionally, the Republicans are creating the new majority in the House with 242 members (the most since 1947) to the Democrats’ 193.

The new Senators and Representatives are feeling the pressure to live up to the campaign promises that carried them to victory last November, and are sure to waste no time getting to the heart of the issues and making changes. As the current session continues, a few issues will be brought forward that will have a significant impact on American citizens, both directly and indirectly.

Health care: As soon as debate returns to the floor on Wednesday, Republicans will waste no time in attempting to repeal the health care law passed last year. Widely unpopular among Republicans yet considered a success for Democrats, the law prohibits health insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions or dropping insurance for patients who become sick, expands Medicaid eligibility, and provides incentives for businesses to provide health care. It will also require all Americans to have health insurance. As stated by California Rep. Darrell Issa to CNN, the House’s Oversight and Government Reform Committee will try to eliminate the "waste, fraud and abuse" in the plan. The House may attempt to repeal the health care law, but the still Democrat-led Senate would likely not let that pass.

Spending: Several new spending cuts have already been proposed by the Republicans in the House. During the 2010 campaign many of those elected had promised to slash $100 billion from the government’s budget. Already they have held a vote to cut the budgets of some congressional offices and committees by $35 million.

Filibusters:In the Senate, a lessened Democratic majority may try to change the rules on the filibuster, a political tactic in which a group of Senators can delay or even prevent legislation from being voted on. Right now the Senate has no limit on how long a filibuster can continue, and at least 60 Senators are needed to break a filibuster and bring legislation to a vote, which has often impeded legislation trying to be passed by the majority. In the last two Congresses, Republicans have used 257 filibusters, the most in American history. Such filibusters have kept measures such as a health care public option from going to a vote.

Immigration Issues: No specific legislation having to do with immigration has been drafted yet, but this issue promises to pick up right where it left off last Congress. In the 111th Congress, acts such as the DREAM act (allowing illegal aliens who graduate from a U.S. high school to become permanent residents if they complete two years of higher education OR two years in the military) were rejected, and under a now Republican-led Congress, any similar legislation will not be likely to pass.