(RepublicanPress.org) – Republican senators blocked a Democratic-led effort to start debate on a new bipartisan infrastructure bill on Wednesday, July 21. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voted with Republicans so that he could reintroduce the measure at a later date. Meanwhile, Democrats keep working out the details on a roughly $3.5 trillion companion bill they hope for force through the Senate using reconciliation.
On July 20, a group of 84 House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to Leader Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) discussing the creation of a new jobs program called Civilian Climate Corps. Funding for the measure would come from the Democrats’ infrastructure bill and not the bipartisan measure.
We’re seeing devastating impacts of the climate crisis every day – and we need to act. My Build Back Better Agenda will help us meet the moment by providing clean energy tax credits, creating a new Civilian Climate Corps, and investing in new technologies to fight climate change.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2021
Citing economic and job-related fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats explained the bill would serve a dual purpose. They propose half the fund’s investments should be allocated to address issues related to environmental issues and their impact on front-line communities. Those issues would include measures ranging from the creation of clean energy to environmental justice and various related concerns.
The other part of the program would address a laundry list of matters like the creation of new “ambitious” labor standards, “strengthening career pathways,” and providing “living wage[s].”
Fortunately, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has expressed some concerns regarding the Democrats’ proposed bill. That’s important because they cannot lose a single vote if they expect to pass their measure using reconciliation.
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