House Democrats Approve $3.5 Trillion Budget Bill Advancing Biden Agenda

On Tuesday, the House voted to advance the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill while simultaneously passing a $3.5 trillion budget plan. The vote was 220 to 212.

“Passing this rule paves the way for the Building Back Better plan, which will forge legislative progress unseen in 50 years, that will stand for generations alongside the New Deal and the Great Society,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said on the House floor before the House voted.
“Any delay in passing the rule threatens the Build Back Better plan, as well as voting rights reform, as well as the bipartisan infrastructure bill. We cannot surrender our leverage.”

Pelosi also released a statement, adding that she and her caucus is “committing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill by September 27” and are willing to “rally House Democratic support for its passage.”

After the bill passed the lower chamber, President Joe Biden celebrated the vote from the House as the budget is crucial for his administration’s plan.

“The bottom line is, in my view, we are a step closer to truly investing in the American people, positioning our economy for long-term growth and building an America that outcompetes the rest of the world,” Biden said Tuesday after the vote. “My goal is to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out, not just the top down.”

Democrats have been pushing to pass the budget reconciliation bill at the same time as the initial $1 trillion bipartisan package, including plans for the environment, Medicare, universal pre-K, childcare and eldercare.

Following the vote, Democrats have lauded the efforts made by House members, while hoping to successfully push the bigger budget plan.

“Congratulations to Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats for passing the $3.5 trillion Budget Resolution. Now, let us move forward aggressively to transform this country by passing both the Reconciliation Bill and the Infrastructure Bill. Working families are counting on us,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) tweeted.

The bill, however, is still facing opposition from moderate Senate Democrats as they push for a smaller budget than progressives want.

“I have also made clear that while I will support beginning this process, I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion — and in the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) said in a statement earlier this month.

Article by Dongyoon Shin