Capitol Correspondence - 08.31.21

House Passes Rule to Advance Budget Resolution

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After returning from recess, the House of Representatives reached agreement to move forward the Senate’s budget resolution and simultaneously set a date for a full House vote on the Senate’s bipartisan physical infrastructure package.

The House returned last Monday facing a pending procedural vote to open consideration of the $3.5 trillion budget resolution, the $1 trillion bipartisan physical infrastructure legislation, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (HR 4). Passing the procedural vote was a necessary step to allow drafting of the text of the budget resolution, which includes investments in home- and community-based services under the Better Care Better Jobs Act. The procedural vote faced hurdles as earlier in the month, 10 House Democrats wrote Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill prior to consideration of the budget resolution.

Holding only a narrow majority, unity among House Democrats is necessary for either bill to pass the chamber. Upon reaching agreement last Tuesday, the House passed a rule on a 220-212 party-line vote, which opened consideration for the budget resolution. The vote also set September 27, 2021 as the deadline for a full House vote on the bipartisan physical infrastructure bill, and opened debate on HR 4. This sets an ambitious timeline to draft and reach agreement on the budget resolution if it is to pass at the same time as the bipartisan infrastructure bill.