House Democrats plow ahead with social spending bill
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House Democratic leaders say they're undeterred by a poor showing in Tuesday’s elections, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing steps to advance President Biden's $1.75 trillion social spending package.
Driving the news: Pelosi announced in a letter to House Democrats new text for the bill, which will be presented to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, a step toward an eventual vote in the House. She also said it will include a provision for paid family leave.
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Between the lines: In the letter, Pelosi wrote: “We must strive to find common ground in the legislation.”
"Today is another momentous day in our historic effort to make the future better for the American people," which underscores that this is a concrete step forward for [the Build Back Better Agenda].
Pelosi is proposing four weeks of paid family and medical leave, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who has lobbied moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) hard on allowing paid leave to be included in the bill, said in a statement.
What they're saying: Asked if Tuesday's results, in which Democrat Terry McAuliffe lost decisively to Republican Glenn Youngkin in Virginia's gubernatorial race, would change the agenda in Congress, Pelosi replied bluntly: “No.”
In New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy also was in a closer-than-expected re-election campaign.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) echoed that sentiment, telling Punchbowl News that McAuliffe’s loss “just reinforces the fact that we need to get these things done.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Gillibrand's statement.
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