What you need to know about the upcoming negotiations over the Build Back Better framework

According to the White House’s website, “This framework will set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out.”

What is the Build Back Better framework?

• Just to be clear, ​​a framework is pretty much what needs to get agreed on in the preliminary stages before the actual negotiations start. Then after the negotiations, you have a bill, then once it’s signed, it‘s a law.

• The Build Back Better framework, or B4, being proposed now comes after Congress passed a US$1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

• According to the White House’s website, “This framework will set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out.”

• The motivation? Well, “the economy has worked great for those at the top while working families get squeezed,” writes the website.

What about that bill from last week?

• Last Friday, a different bill was passed. And, it was the largest investment into infrastructure in United States history.

• Named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bill’s total cost is well over a trillion US dollars. Yes, that’s “trillion” with a “t.”

• The bill’s goal is to aid infrastructure, including transit systems and internet infrastructure, as well as to provide employment opportunities to Americans.

• Earlier this month, when the House passed the IIJA, putting the Build Back Better bill on hold, US President Joe Biden said, “I am urging all members to vote for both the rule for consideration of the Build Back Better Act and final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill tonight,” he wrote. “I am confident that during the week of November 15, the House will pass the Build Back Better Act.”

How did the voting go?

• So, next on the agenda is the B4 – a social safety net bill and a bill dedicated to climate change initiatives in the country. But, Democrats proposed the IIJA first to get some Republicans on their side before pushing anything more onto the Senate floor.

• Despite infrastructure usually being a bipartisan thing, only 19 of the 50 Republicans Senators voted in support of the IIJA.

• And, for the Republican Senators that supported it, some of their peers have criticized them for “siding” with Democrats, including former President Donald Trump.

• “Very sad that the RINOs in the House and Senate gave Biden and Democrats a victory on the “Non-Infrastructure" Bill," said Trump on Sunday. “All Republicans who voted for Democrat longevity should be ashamed of themselves, in particular Mitch McConnell, for granting a two-month stay which allowed the Democrats time to work things out at our Country’s, and the Republican Party’s, expense!"

How are other countries responding?

• Some experts have pointed out that the US is investing heavily into infrastructure through these bills in order to compete with China in production with their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

• In an article by state-backed media Global Times, it wrote that the bill was “a feeble imitation of China" while also pointing out China’s superiority when it comes to infrastructure.

• “The bill will by no means solve all the US’ problems and give the country enough vitality to compete with China in the sphere of large-scale infrastructure projects," wrote the article. “The chances that the plan will be effectively implemented are slim by any means."

• Global Times went on to point out that the US was threatened by China’s rise in power, and how some believe that only the US should remain in power.

• “Some US political elites arrogantly believe that the US should lead the world in all aspects for fear that China surpasses them in any way. They are lost in their pride and arrogance."

What’s next?

• With the B4 on its way, on Monday, Biden also signed the infrastructure bill into effect. This was the same day Biden had his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

• And so with this infrastruture bill signed, many of the proposed changes would start immediately, revitalizing the nation’s roads, bridges, waterways and public transit systems.

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