Policy Briefs
July 23, 2021
Update on President Biden’s Legislative Priorities
President Biden’s initiatives outlined in his American Families Plan are moving forward, at least among the Democrats. Senate Democrats are pushing a $1.2 trillion bill that will focus on transportation and other infrastructure, such as roads and broadband service; this bill does not include money for child care and family tax credits. Details on how to pay for the bill are still being negotiated; Congressional Democrats need 10 Republican votes to pass the Senate. In addition, Democrats unveiled a $3.5 trillion spending package last week that included provisions to extend free education to prekindergartners and community college students, expand Medicare benefits and lower prescription drug prices. Proposed methods to pay for it include increasing taxes for high-income earners and taxing imports from nations that do not have aggressive climate change policies.