Progressives are holding the line in the fight to pass President Joe Biden’s agenda as they look to get their priorities finalized in the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better bill.

The bill includes a Medicare expansion to cover hearing, $150 billion for affordable housing, free preschool and child tax credits.

A number of key provisions were dropped in the final hour of negotiations such as paid family and medical leave, expanding Medicare to include dental and vision care, free community college, a billionaire tax, lower drug prices and the Clean Electricity Performance Program.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., says a number of issues are still unresolved and that progressives are willing to block the vote until next week.

“There are ... too many ‘no’ votes for the BIF to pass today. However, we are committed to staying here until we get this Build Back Better Act done, get the legislative text,” Jayapal said.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said she would vote against the bipartisan bill if it came to a vote without the larger details on the spending package.

“I don't see how ethically I can vote to increase U.S. climate emissions,” Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday, noting that a “framework” of President Biden's “Build Back Better” plan isn't enough detail to sway her vote on infrastructure.

“We have had a framework for six months," she said. "We need text.”

Jayapal added that the Congressional Progressive Caucus is willing to back the $1.75 trillion budget bill.

“With the framework that is there, we can endorse that in principle, but we do need to have the legislative text and we will vote both bills through together,” she added.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also voiced his support for holding off a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill until the reconciliation bill is finalized.

“Before there is a vote in the House on the infrastructure bill, the members of the House have a right to know that 50 U.S. senators are supporting a strong reconciliation bill,” he said.

Sanders also referenced the “major gaps” the reconciliation bill has as it failed to deliver on lowering prescription drug prices.

“What you don’t want to see is the infrastructure bill pass and then not have the kind of Build Back Better bill that we need,” he said. “That’s why you need 50 members [of the Senate] on board before there should be a vote, in my view, in the House,” Sanders added.

RELATED STORIES