The legislation was approved on a 220-213 vote clearing a major hurdle for a plan that is the cornerstone of his sweeping domestic agenda to expand the nation’s social safety net, confront climate change, and help Americans bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic…
The roughly $2 trillion package of progressive priorities would provide free universal preschool for three- and four-year olds, caps certain drug costs, boosts Pell grants for college tuition, expands family leave, and provides new hearing benefit for seniors. It would address climate change through billions in incentive programs while also spending money to electrify up to 165,000 U.S. Postal Service trucks and creating a Civilian Climate Corps. It also increases corporate taxes and beefs up IRS enforcement.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hailed the measure as “historic, transformative and larger than anything we have ever done before.”
“We are building back better,” she said before the vote. “If you’re a parent, a senior, a child, a worker. If you’re an American, this bill is for you.”
After the bill passed, Democrats gathered at the front of the chamber, hugging, dancing and applauding. A cheer of, “Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!” broke out.
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