Infrastructure bill could be done 'well before' Build Back Better, confirms Rep. Jayapal
Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told CNN's John Berman that her caucus is ready to pass both parts of President Biden's sweeping economic agenda — the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure framework, as well as the Build Back Better act — the former of which she believes will likely be done "well before" the latter.
While appearing on New Day Tuesday morning, one day after a noncommittal presser from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jayapal said her progressive caucus was "finally at the place we have been asking for — demanding over the last several months — which is two bills moving together in the House and we'll get them both done." Earlier in the interview, the leader said there will be votes "this week" on both pieces of Biden's agenda, meaning the infrastructure bill would presumably soon move to the president's desk while the $1.75 trillion spending package heads to the Senate. The leader had shared similar sentiments on Monday.
When Berman then replied "so this does mean though that infrastructure could be done — will be done — well before Build Back Better?", Jayapal quickly answered "yes."
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.
She continued: "My hope and belief in talking to the Senate majority leader, talking to other senators, talking to the president is that the Senate will move this forward very quickly. Hopefully we can get it done before Thanksgiving, and we will have this transformative piece of legislation" that invests in a multitude of social infrastructure programs.
The concession from the progressive caucus is notable, considering the group had long refused to take up the infrastructure bill without confirmation the social package would pass in the Senate. Now, however, Jayapal said she trusts Biden to deliver 51 votes.
Watch below:
-
Gisèle Pelicot’s ‘extraordinarily courageous’ memoir is a ‘compelling’ readIn the Spotlight A Hymn to Life is a ‘riveting’ account of Pelicot’s ordeal and a ‘rousing feminist manifesto’
-
The EU’s war on fast fashionIn the Spotlight Bloc launches investigation into Shein over sale of weapons and ‘childlike’ sex dolls, alongside efforts to tax e-commerce giants and combat textile waste
-
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: a ‘highly entertaining ride’The Week Recommends Mystery-comedy from the creator of Derry Girls should be ‘your new binge-watch’
-
‘The forces he united still shape the Democratic Party’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
How are Democrats turning DOJ lemons into partisan lemonade?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION As the Trump administration continues to try — and fail — at indicting its political enemies, Democratic lawmakers have begun seizing the moment for themselves
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
