BREAKING: Senate passes first infrastructure bill -- here’s what’s next.
Here's the big news:
After breaking two filibusters along the way, the Senate voted 69-30 to pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure and jobs bill. It now goes to the House for final passage.
It's a big deal. It includes lots of money to do big, important projects.
But it's also not enough. We must pass the budget reconciliation bill that will be the biggest investment in families since the New Deal and an historic investment in fighting the climate crisis.
The budget bill will make child care more affordable, provide paid family leave, lower prescription drug costs, expand Medicare to include dental and vision, and tax cuts for working-class and middle-class Americans. It will include a clean electricity standard that will transform our energy systems and prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency, ensuring that 80% of our energy is produced by clean sources in just 10 years.
The budget bill will not be subject to a filibuster. It will require just 51 votes to pass — which means we don't have a single Democrat to spare. Last night, we successfully kicked off that process, kickstarting this next big fight on behalf of the American people.
And I'll say it again: It highlights just how hard we must fight in 2022 to defend and expand our majority. This progress is happening only because we have the majority. And to do more — and we must do more — we need to expand our majority.
Jeff
