Build Back Better bill passes House, moving to 50-50 Senate for another uphill climb
It's official — after a much-delayed vote thanks to a quasi-filibuster from Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the House officially passed President Biden's sweeping spending package 220-213, "approving $2 trillion in spending over the next decade to battle climate change, expand health care, and reweave the nation's social safety net," per The New York Times. All Republicans and 1 Democrat voted against the legislation.
"The Build Back Better bill is passed!" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) exclaimed triumphantly following the Friday morning vote, per CNN's Kaitlan Collins. Democrats reportedly "jumped up and down, clapped, hugged, fist pumped, and did little happy dances" while Pelosi shared the news, even gathering around her to chant, "Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!" as she left the dais.
The measure's passage comes about two weeks after Congress passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which Biden signed into law on Monday.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The bill will now move to the Senate, where Democratic leaders have the difficult job of uniting a 50-50 chamber, unable to lose even one vote. The process "is almost certain to reshape the measure and force it back to the House — if it passes at all," per the Times.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June



