After months of fierce political fighting, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday she hopes to reach an agreement on a huge social spending package and a vote on an infrastructure bill this week. next, adding: "We almost have it".
President Joe Biden set out to secure passage of the two bills – which Democrats see as vital to his party’s future in next year’s midterm elections – before departing for the climate summit in Glasgow, which opens its doors on October 31.
The White House scored "progress" while Biden was meeting with a key member of his party on Sunday, a sentiment shared by Democratic leaders in Congress.
Asked on a CNN show about whether the deal on the spending package and the infrastructure vote could happen next week, Pelosi replied: "This is the plan".
On social spending, which has divided progressive and moderate Democrats, he sounded particularly optimistic. "We are almost there" said.
Pelosi’s comment came as Biden, at his home in Delaware, argued what the White House described as a "productive discussion" with Joe Manchin, one of two Democratic senators whose resistance to the president’s Build Back Better program has proven to be a major stumbling block.
"They continued to make progress, they will have their teams work on following up on the meeting and agreed to stay in close contact with each other and with the wide range of members who have worked hard in those negotiations."the White House said in a statement about the meeting that was also attended by the leader of the Senate Democrats, Chuck Schumer.
Biden also expressed optimism on television Thursday when he said: "I think I’ll get a deal".
Democrats have slim majorities in both houses of Congress. However, internal divisions are preventing approval of the $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure project and the landmark social spending initiative that Biden says will provide better resources and equity for less fortunate Americans.
The president originally bet on a social spending of 3.5 trillion dollars, including various benefits for students, families and the elderly, and the fight against climate change, but the agreement could close around 2 trillion.
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