House approves Biden’s social spending plan
WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Friday approved their sweeping measure to strengthen the nation’s social safety net programs and begin to respond to the climate crisis, a sorely needed show of progress for President Biden’s legislative agenda even as it faces more hurdles.
The bill passed 220 to 213, with support from all but one Democrat and no Republicans.
Their attempt to pass the bill Thursday night was foiled by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who held control of the House floor by speaking for more than eight and a half hours, preventing a vote from occurring until Democratic leaders finally decided to reschedule it for Friday morning.
The House Republican leader used his speech to attack the bill, Democrats and Biden’s agenda. He spoke continuously from 8:38 p.m. ET Thursday until 5:11 a.m. ET Friday, beating the record for the longest House floor speech set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2018.
The surprise last-minute hitch capped months of delays and negotiation among House Democratic moderates and progressives, Senate Democrats and the White House over the
