Senate to Consider Build Back Better Legislation

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has pledged to bring the Build Back Better Act up for a vote in the Senate despite opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). The legislation, as passed by the House of Representatives last year, proposes to spend some $1.75 trillion on social, health care and climate programs to deliver on part of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. In December, Sen. Manchin indicated he could not support the package in its current form and has engaged with the White House over proposed changes. On Tuesday, however, reports indicated that there were no ongoing discussions and that the Senate and White House were focusing on voting rights legislation.

Most legislation requires 60 votes to be considered in the Senate. Because BBB is being considered under modified procedures known as reconciliation, it requires only 50 senators to vote to consider the legislation. With the Senate split 50-50, Majority Leader Schumer cannot afford to lose a Democratic vote, so if Sen. Manchin remains opposed, the BBB package cannot pass the Senate.

NRMCA has joined the business community expressing opposition to tax increases and financial account reporting information included in the BBB package and will continue to oppose taxes and other policies that would negatively impact the ready mixed concrete industry.

For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.