House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has proposed a procedural vote next week that would set up passage of two key elements of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.
The House is planning to return from August recess next Monday and will vote on the rule governing floor debate on the Senate-approved bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution that would unlock Democrats’ massive $3.5 trillion social spending package.
Last Friday, nine centrist Democrats said they would oppose the budget resolution until the House first approves the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill. With House Republicans opposed to the budget resolution and social spending plan, Pelosi can lose no more than three Democratic lawmakers to pass legislation through the closely split chamber.
Pelosi has said she won’t bring up the infrastructure bill for a final vote until the Senate approves the social spending package through reconciliation. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Biden "strongly supports" Pelosi's plan to combine the rule for both bills next week, along with voting rights legislation.
"All three are critical elements of the President's agenda, and we hope that every Democratic member supports this effort to advance these important legislative actions," Bates said.
Pelosi delivered a message to her caucus on Tuesday night, reminding them that the budget is “the key to unlocking the 51-vote privilege of the reconciliation path for our transformative Build Back Better bill.”
“Again, any delay in passing the budget resolution could threaten our ability to pass this essential legislation through reconciliation,” Pelosi said. “This jeopardizes the once-in-a-generation opportunity we face to enact initiatives that meet the needs of working families at this crucial time.”
This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of A and Inroads.