House Democrats Pass Biden’s Climate & Heath Care Bill 220-207

House Democrats passed President Joe Biden‘s signature Inflation Reduction Act in a party-line vote, 220-207, on Friday.

“This life-changing legislation increases the leverage of the people’s interest over the special interest,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) wrote in a letter to her Democratic colleagues ahead of the vote. “This bill makes a tremendous difference at the kitchen table of America’s families.”

The $750 billion bill will be signed into law by the President with midterms just a few months away, marking a significant win for Biden’s domestic agenda. It is aimed at combating climate change, investing in green energy programs and allowing Medicare to negotiate prices on prescription drugs for the first time. It also represents the largest commitment to fighting climate change by the U.S. government ever by delegating around $370 billion to the cause.

Biden’s long-sought social spending bill started out as the multi-trillion dollar Build Back Better Act before moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) blocked it back in December. Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) worked together for months in downsizing the bill until Manchin was comfortable supporting it. Following the surprise agreement, Democrats put their effort into getting centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) onboard. She announced that she was behind the bill after Democrats agreed to remove the carried interest tax provision earlier last week.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed in the Senate 51-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie breaker in an overnight session last Sunday.

The bill now heads to Biden’s desk for one last sign-off.

Article by Rose Carter