Tuition-free community college is no longer part of President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” social spending bill, according to NBC News sources.
According to the outlet, Biden told progressive lawmakers Tuesday that the proposal for two years of tuition-free community college would be axed from the plan and the child tax credit program would be reduced. However, sources did say the tax credit program would probably be extended for another year.
Many Democrats pushed for both measures as a way to cut down poverty rates and lessen financial barriers to higher education.
In addition to the child tax credit, NBC News said the Clean Energy Performance Program included in the bill is expected to be scaled down.
A focus on renewable energy will still remain part of the legislation, said sources.
Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California, said that Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the main behind the reduction to climate measures in the bill. Apart from Manchin, Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has also balked at some of the Build Back Better proposals and the bill’s cost.
Democrats are trying to pass the legislation without Republican support through reconciliation. As Biden and other members of the party work to reach a deal on the spending bill, another part of the legislation that could end up reduced is paid leave. Though the bill currently calls for 12 weeks of leave, this could be shortened to four.
Despite these changes, Democrats seem to have a positive outlook regarding the Build Back Better program.
“I think we all still feel even more optimistic about getting to an agreement on a really transformational bill that will fundamentally lift people up,” Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington said of the bill Tuesday.
When the spending package was first proposed, the estimated price tag was $3.5 trillion. Last month, lawmakers brought it down to $1.9 trillion to $2.2 trillion and Biden said this week that the new goal is a $1.75 trillion to $1.9 trillion package. Biden’s administration is pressuring Congress to pass the bill and a $1 trillion infrastructure bill be the end of October.
“After a day of constructive meetings, the president is more confident this evening about the path forward to delivering for the American people on strong, sustained economic growth that benefits everyone,” press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Tuesday night.
Manchin, on the other hand, said he doubts Congress will meet the deadline.
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