House Struggles To Pass Biden's Build Back Better Plan As Talks Continue To Stall

The House of Representatives is struggling to pass President Biden’s multi-trillion dollar legislative agenda after months of debate and infighting amongst Congressional Democrats.

The two bills in question are a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal designed to improve the nation’s roads, bridges, highways, public transportation, waterways, and broadband. The second is a $1.85 trillion social spending bill designed to expand Medicare to cover hearing, fund universal pre-K, child tax credit, childcare, $150 billion for housing, combat climate change, money for immigration, a 15% tax on corporations, and provide 4 weeks of paid family leave.

Due to the narrow margins in both houses, Democrats must unanimously pass the budget bill in the Senate and cannot afford to lose more than three votes in the House for either bill. The infrastructure bill would go to the president’s desk and the social spending bill would go to the Senate so it can be amended one final time. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D- Wash., says passing the spending bill is still the right thing to do despite numerous attempts by moderate Democrats to water it down from $3.5 trillion.

“We’re making people’s lives better. What's the alternative? To do nothing. I mean, that's not gonna get us anywhere … part of what we have to do is really understand the economic frustration that people have right now. And I think that is really important for us,” Jayapal said.

The House bill is still being voted on as Democratic lawmakers struggle to reach an agreement in the longest legislative stand-off in modern history. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggles to unite her caucus, a source familiar with the talks told The Hill they are “not looking good.”