U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va. (File)

WASHINGTON (February 5, 2013)—House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Tuesday urged Republicans to place more emphasis on education, health care and other kitchen-table issues as the GOP tries to recover from its November setbacks.

Cantor said Republicans must show they have better solutions for families who struggle to pay their bills and who worry about their children's education and future.

Cantor proposed few new initiatives in a speech Tuesday in Washington, but he did endorse a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children.

He said federal aid should be available for those moving to charter or private schools to escape poorly performing public schools.

Cantor said the government should continue funding medical research.

He said the debt remains an important, but not exclusive, GOP concern.