Senate 51-50 Vote Clinches Long-Delayed Health And Climate Bill

"The party-line vote marks a major achievement for Democrats, after more than a year of wrangling over a centerpiece of President Biden’s economic agenda. It now awaits a vote in the House."

"The Senate on Sunday approved a sweeping package to combat climate change, lower health-care costs, raise taxes on some billion-dollar corporations and reduce the federal deficit, as Democrats overcame months of political infighting to deliver the centerpiece to President Biden’s long-stalled economic agenda.

The party-line vote was a milestone in a tumultuous journey that began last year when Democrats took control of Congress and the White House with a promise to bring financial relief to ordinary Americans. With a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Harris, the 50-50 Senate sent the bill to the House, which aims to approve it and send it to the White House for Biden’s signature later this week.

Dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the package would authorize the biggest burst of spending in U.S. history to tackle global warming — about $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below their 2005 levels by the end of this decade. The proposal also would make good on Democrats’ years-old pledge to reduce prescription drug costs for the elderly."

Tony Romm reports for the Washington Post August 7, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"Five Decades in the Making: Why It Took Congress So Long to Act on Climate" (New York Times)

"After Passage Of Climate Bill, Long Road Awaits" (Washington Post)

"Senate Approves Climate, Budget Reconciliation Bill" (E&E News)

"Analysis: Democrats Score Big Wins On Climate, Drugs With $430 Billion U.S. Senate Bill" (Reuters)

"Senate Passes Democrats' Sweeping Health Care And Climate Bill" (CNN)

"History’s Greatest Obstacle to Climate Progress Has Finally Fallen" (Atlantic)

"The Senate finally passed a historic climate bill. Now what?" (Washington Post)

 

Source: Washington Post, 08/08/2022