On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, spoke with reporters at the Capitol. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
Senator Bernie Sanders supported a new proposal that would shrink the Build Back better plan from $3.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion.
It was, he said, "by far the greatest piece of legislation ever passed in this world to address climate change."
He also stated that House progressives should wait until the Senate moderates agree before voting on infrastructure.
Senator Bernie Sanders, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and champion of the Build back Better social spending bill, has endorsed a White House proposal that was released Thursday. It would reduce the bill from $3.5 trillion down to $1.75 trillion, and leave out many progressive priorities.
Sanders said to reporters at the Capitol that "amidst all the dickering, the concerns, let's understand: this is by no means the most significant piece legislation ever passed in the whole world, I believe, to deal with the climate."
Sanders expressed disappointment at the fact that some of his priorities were dropped from the bill. However, he was positive about the overall situation, saying that Congress hasn't passed the same types of provisions in the bill since the 1960s.
He said, "It goes very far in protecting the needs of workers, the elderly, children and the poor." "And it does far, far more than any other time in terms of climate change."
Insider reported that the bill contains a $555 billion climate investment. This figure is close to the initial request of progressives and is the largest portion of the bill.
Sanders stated, "You have the outline for a very important piece of legislation that we want to improve," adding that he still believes that there is a chance to make improvements to the bill's structure.
After declaring Wednesday that "the very fabric of American democracy was in danger," Sanders sought to again tie the bill to the fate American democracy.
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He stated that he didn't want Americans to think, "Look, once more, the drug companies won" or "The insurance companies won". "I want Americans to know that working families won this time," he said.
Sanders emphasized other priorities in the bill that were still being considered, such as reducing childhood poverty, expanding Medicare and building affordable housing.
"This is a huge deal. He said that he wanted to see the bill strengthened. Sanders indicated that he wanted progressives to hold their votes on a $1 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, until they could get solid agreement from Senate moderates Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin.
He stated that he believed the House shouldn't vote for the infrastructure bill until they have seen clear language and are aware that there are fifty senators aboard, regardless of the agreement.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, demanded a vote on Thursday on the bill.
Business Insider has the original article.
