Second major legislative victory in sight for Joe Biden. The House of Representatives approved the social program of the Biden-Harris administration. At the end of a marathon session that began Thursday, 220 Democrats voted for the bill dubbed “Build Back Better” while 213 Republicans voted against the text.
After passing the house, the document was sent to the Senate where the Democrats hold an extremely fragile majority. Without the support of the Republicans, all 50 Democratic Senators can approve the document with the Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie breaking vote. But, this exercise may prove to be extremely difficult considering that the centrist senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsen Sinema are opposed to several points of the social package.
If approved by both branches of Congress, Joe Biden’s 2,468-page social plan will enable millions of citizens who have emigrated to the United States to realize their dreams. Zoomhaitinews proposes the most important parties of this bill are…
Immigration
The economic and social plan contains an envelope of 100 billion dollars allocated to the reform of the American immigration system. More than 8 million undocumented immigrants will have the opportunity to either: obtain their green card, become U.S. citizens, or be eligible for other temporary status, according to the document approved by the House of Representatives on Friday. November 19, 2021.
However, it is important to remember that even with the passage of the economic and social plan, nothing is guaranteed for the undocumented immigrants. The Senate parliamentarian can withdraw immigration-related provisions during the reconciliation process. On two occasions, Elizabeth MacDonough has ruled against Democrats arguing that there is no “immediate judicial connection” between the social plan and migration reform. Changing the migration system must be part of a separate piece of legislation, MacDonough said. But progressive Democrats remain confident that the migration component of the law could be validated. They intend to evoke the Byrd rule which will force the opponents of the bill to gather a two-thirds majority to defeat the articles in question. A figure impossible to meet given the fact that there are 50 senators for each party.
Medical coverage and the Pre-School program (Pre-K):
The plan also contains a provision that will allow more than 6 million children between the ages of 3 and 4 to benefit from free pre-school programs. This component will remain applicable over the next 6 years. Free or discounted health care will also be available for children under the age of six under this program. This bill should also allow the permanent improvement of medical coverage for the elderly. Other medical benefits are also included for the most vulnerable groups.
Family leave
For the first time in the history of the world’s leading power, employees will have access to four weeks of family and sick leave paid for by the federal government. This program will cost more than 194 billion dollars, according to the document adopted by the lower house. But here again, American employees should not claim victory too quickly, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin opposed all components of the document seeking to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged groups of American Citizens.
Other important programs are also included in this bill.
At the end of the vote, the speaker of the House of Representatives rejoiced the fact that the Democrats in the lower house could combine their efforts to pass this document which is of very important for the Biden administration. “Under this dome for centuries, members of Congress have stood exactly where we are to pass legislation of extraordinary consequence in the history of our nation and for the future of our country. nation, ”said Nancy Pelosi adding that this law “will be the backbone of health and safety finance in America. ”
The co-chair of the Haitian caucus at the American Congress also welcomed the passage of the social reform plan by the house of representatives. Yvette Diane Clarke believes the Build Back Better plan will improve the living conditions of Americans and illegal immigrants in the United States.
”The Better Build Back law will reduce costs for families, such as prescription drugs, health care premiums, child care and home care for the elderly, said the representative. of the ninth district of New York. “Collectively, these unprecedented investments represent an important step in advancing President Biden’s economic plan to create jobs, reduce costs, fight the climate crisis, make our country more competitive and rebuild the middle class,” added Ms. Clarke. .
After its adoption in the House of Representatives, the document was sent to the Senate which should rule on it before the Christmas holidays, according to the leader of the Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer.