Build Back Better Act

Great Seal of the United States (obverse)

Build Back Better Act (BBBA) was a proposed legislative package in the United States aimed at addressing a wide range of issues including climate change, healthcare, education, and social welfare. The act was part of President Joe Biden's economic agenda, following the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and sought to make transformative investments in the nation's infrastructure, family support systems, and efforts to combat climate change. Despite its ambitious goals, the Build Back Better Act faced significant challenges in Congress, leading to adjustments and negotiations over its size and scope.

Overview

The Build Back Better Act was introduced as a comprehensive plan to bolster the United States' social and environmental infrastructure. It aimed to extend or introduce benefits such as child care support, universal pre-kindergarten, expanded health care coverage, and measures to reduce carbon emissions. The act was seen as a continuation of the progressive policies introduced in the American Rescue Plan, with a focus on long-term investments in the country's future.

Legislative Process

The legislative journey of the Build Back Better Act was complex, involving negotiations within the Democratic Party due to its narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The act was primarily supported by Democrats, while Republicans largely opposed it, citing concerns over its cost and potential impact on the national debt.

Key Provisions

The Build Back Better Act included several key provisions aimed at addressing various social and environmental issues:

• Climate Change: The act proposed significant investments in clean energy and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of advancing the United States towards net-zero emissions.
• Healthcare: Expansion of Medicare benefits to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and efforts to lower prescription drug prices.
• Education: Funding for universal pre-kindergarten and community college, aiming to make higher education more accessible.
• Child Care and Family Support: Proposals to reduce child care costs for families and extend the child tax credit expansion introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Tax Reforms: The act also included provisions to adjust the tax code, aiming to fund the proposed investments by increasing taxes on corporations and high-income individuals.

Challenges and Adjustments

The Build Back Better Act faced significant hurdles in Congress, with debates over its cost and specific provisions leading to revisions of the original proposal. Key sticking points included the overall price tag of the package, with some moderate Democrats pushing for a reduction in spending. These negotiations resulted in changes to the scope and scale of the proposed investments.

Current Status

As of the last update, the Build Back Better Act had not been passed into law. The legislative process highlighted the challenges of enacting a broad, transformative agenda within a closely divided Congress. The future of the Build Back Better Act, or components of it, remains uncertain, with ongoing discussions about how to move forward with President Biden's economic and environmental priorities.

See Also

• American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
• Joe Biden
• Democratic Party
• United States Senate
• United States House of Representatives