White House: Biden wants bill passed ‘as soon as Congress returns’

The White House said Friday that President Biden wants to see his signature climate and social policy bill advance “as soon as Congress returns” from recess in January, after negotiations hit a major roadblock in the Senate this past week.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden is “committed to pressing forward through ups and downs” in the legislative negotiations.

“He is somebody who is committed to pressing forward through ups and downs, and that’s where we are right now,” Psaki said, adding later that “the president wants to see this move forward, it’s a priority for him, as soon as Congress returns.”

Negotiations between Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) hit significant roadblocks this week as the moderate senator opposed elements of the package, including a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit, which is due to expire next month.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the White House hoped to see the bill advance before the Christmas holiday, but Biden and others acknowledged late Thursday that timeline would not be met.

The developments have left Democrats frustrated while throwing the fate of the roughly $2 trillion package, which passed the House in November, into doubt given Democrats’ slim majority in the Senate.

Psaki insisted Friday that Biden and Manchin have a good relationship.

“The president considers Sen. Manchin a friend. He’s somebody who he has many candid and direct conversations with. It doesn’t mean they always agree on everything, but that is not the bar that the president sets for his relationships or friendships with members of Congress,” Psaki said.

“The president is also someone who has been through many legislative battles, many legislative fights, many that have ups and downs but ultimately resulted in victory,” she said, pointing to the passage of the Affordable Care Act during the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president.

Psaki also said that the White House has had conversations with the Treasury Department about making double payments of the child tax credit in February if the legislation passes next month.

Asked if Democrats would have enough time to pass the massive bill in the new year with the looming midterm elections, Psaki replied: “That’s absolutely our plan. The president wants to see this move forward … early next year.”