Progressive Caucus gives new deadline for Build Back Better bill

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has set a new deadline for passing President Biden’s Build Back Better Bill. “We are calling for President Biden and Senate Democrats to pass the Build Back Better Act by March 1, so the President can use the power of the State of the Union platform to share with the nation the relief that people will soon receive,” caucus chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) wrote in a letter released Thursday.

In the months since Build Back Better negotiations stalled, this legislation has only become more urgent. Relief cannot be delayed any longer.

We're calling on @POTUS and Senate Dems to pass the Build Back Better Act by the State of the Union on March 1.

Our full statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/MnSaSUIWDY

— Progressive Caucus (@USProgressives) January 27, 2022

Jayapal told Politico she spoke to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) following his vote against Biden’s $1.7 trillion social spending safety net program. According to Jayapal, Manchin laid out a plan of what he would be willing to accept in a scaled-down version of the bill.

“This is both achievable and necessary,” Jayapal wrote. “There is agreement among Senate Democrats on significant parts of this bill: climate action, the care economy, taking on Big Pharma’s price gouging, and lowering health care costs. There is agreement on the need to reduce rising costs facing ordinary Americans — and that is exactly what Build Back Better does. The White House and Congressional Democrats confronted the crisis of the pandemic to pass the historic American Rescue Plan as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, creating millions of jobs. It’s past time to bring that same commitment to delivering Build Back Better.”