Senate Democrats passed a signature bill to tackle the climate crisis and prescription drug prices early Sunday morning and introduced it to the House.
This law, known as the Cut Inflation Act of 2022, would be the biggest step the U.S. government has taken to cut domestic emissions at a time when global targets have stalled. . It also allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap insulin costs for Medicare recipients, and continue subsidizing Obamacare.
The votes followed a series of polls known as the "rama votes" that began late Saturday night and lasted until Sunday afternoon. All 50 voted YES on the bill, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, and all Republicans voted YES on the bill.
"This is an example of a leader who understands that if people are willing and brave enough to actually come forward and solve a problem, there will be a solution soon," Ms Harris said. The Independent
The bill is now in the House of Representatives and is likely to pass if only nine of the 220 Democrats vote against it. The White House said President Joe Biden will sign the bill into law.
The bill comes after Democrats have spent more than a year trying to pass a domestic law signed by President Joe Biden. Mr. Biden initially hoped to pass a large social spending bill that would include expanding the child tax credit. home care for the disabled; expanded hearing coverage for Medicare recipients; immigration reform; stronger efforts to combat the climate crisis and promote clean energy; They hoped to pass it along with his bipartisan infrastructure bill.
But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, a conservative Democratic Senator from West Virginia, , unveiled an opposition bill known as Build Back Better in December. This has led to many rounds of negotiations between Mr. Manchin and his Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Late last month, Mr. Schumer and Mr. Manchin announced a deal known as the Inflation Reduction Act, which agreed with Mr. Manchin's concerns about rising prices.
It will also boost America's credibility on the international stage, as Mr. Biden plans to head to Egypt for his COP27. So he will call on China, Europe and other major emitters to drastically cut their fossil fuel use.
The bill proposes $369 billion to invest in climate and clean energy, including tax incentives to expand renewables, batteries and nuclear power over the next decade. billions of dollars in incentives.
The law also provides tax credits to facilitate the purchase of electric vehicles, helps farmers reduce agricultural emissions, and helps reduce emissions from agriculture, which is most affected by climate and pollution. It funds improvements in minority and low-income communities that live in the United States.
Some new analyzes of the IRA by independent policy groups found emissions to be reduced by about 40% (below 2005 levels) by the end of the 2005s. This brings the United States closer to President Joe Biden's pledge to cut US emissions in half by 2030.
Some climate activists and environmental groups opposed aspects of the bill that were necessary to win Mr. Manchin. Property from his state's coal industry, including the government's requirement to auction leases for oil and gas drilling in public lands and waters, including the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.
Coal and gas plants using carbon capture technology will also receive extended tax credits. Manchin was given another promise of accelerated permit progress on West Virginia's Mountain Valley Gas Pipeline.
At the same time, many Democratic senators said they would not vote on bill amendments, citing their only chance to pass important climate-related legislation.
Many Democrats also expressed excitement over the fact that Medicare would be able to negotiate drug prices. Issued guidance undermining parts of law that would force Medicare reimbursements if raised above inflation.
Congressman limits insulin to $35 for privately insured patients He dealt another blow to the Democrats when he announced that the plan did not follow budget adjustment rules. This prompted Republicans to issue an order to remove it from the bill.
The bill would have required Democrats to win his 60 votes to keep the price of insulin at $35 for privately insured patients, but they voted in favor of keeping it. He was the only Republican who pitched.
Similarly, Republican Senate Minority Rep. John Thune has used the Democratic Party of Japan against certain private equity-related companies as a means of persuading conservative Democratic Senator Kirsten Cinema of Arizona. attempted to include carve-outs in its proposed minimum corporate tax. But the amendment would have jeopardized the bill in the House because it continued caps on state and local tax deductions that were in place during the Trump tax cuts, which many Democrats in New York, New Jersey and California oppose.
Six Democrats joined Cinema, including Senator John Ossoff and Senator Rafael Warnock of Georgia. Jackie Rosen and Catherine Cortez Mast in Nevada. Mark Kelly of Arizona. and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia introduced an alternate amendment that passed with all Democrat ballots.
Despite setbacks, Democrats passed the bill early Sunday evening.
Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, who is chairman of the Democratic Senate Election Committee and is charged with protecting Democratic elections and incumbents, said the prescription drug aspect would help the Democratic campaign. said deaf.
"Looking at the polls, it seems to be the biggest issue for most people in the country right now," he told The Independent during the vote, discussing the bill. It was started.
Democrats also received a life raft when Republicans failed to issue an order to repeal portions of a bill capping insulin costs for uninsured patients.
Bill Senator Bernie Sanders, who criticized the US for being inadequate, said that instead of negotiating an initial 10 drugs by 2024 and 20 by 2029, Medicare could negotiate prices for all drugs.
I think it is imperative that this Congress, at least as a party, understands the crisis facing working families, and I We will support them and vote on some serious amendments to improve the bill, he told reporters on Saturday afternoon.
However, Mr. Sanders' proposals to amend drug prices and to include dentistry, hearing, and eye care in Medicare coverage all fell through as most Democrats opposed the bills. .
Despite internal dissent, many Democrats welcomed the bill's passage. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said it showed the Democrats could fight special interests.
"I mean, this is the first time you think about this. We lose. We challenged a drug company that had no history, we fought oil companies that rarely lost, we fought Wall Street, we beat all three, but how important is that?