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Wednesday 17 august 2022
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation

By ZEKE MILLER and SEUNG Democrat has in the evenly
MIN KIM divided Senate.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- During the signing event,
dent Joe Biden signed Biden addressed Manchin,
Democrats' landmark cli- who struck the critical deal
mate change and health with Schumer on the pack-
care bill into law on Tues- age last month, saying,
day, delivering what he "Joe, I never had a doubt"
has called the "final piece" as the crowd chuckled.
of his pared-down domes- Later, outside the White
tic agenda, as he aims to House, Manchin said he
boost his party's standing has always maintained a
with voters less than three "friendly relationship" with
months before the midterm Biden and it has "never
elections. been personal" between
The legislation includes the the two, despite Manchin
most substantial federal in- breaking off his negotia-
vestment in history to fight tions with the White House
climate change — some last year.
$375 billion over the de- "He's a little bit more vin-
cade — and would cap tage than I am, but not
prescription drug costs at much," Manchin said of
$2,000 out-of-pocket an- Biden.
nually for Medicare recipi- President Joe Biden signs the Democrats' landmark climate change and health care bill in the Though the law is consid-
ents. It also would help an State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, as from left, Sen. erably smaller than their
Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., House Majority Whip Rep.
estimated 13 million Ameri- James Clyburn, D-S.C., Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., watch. initial ambitions, Biden and
cans pay for health care in- Associated Press Democrats are hailing the
surance by extending sub- legislation as a once-in-a-
sidies provided during the ing the White House cer- standing with voters as he knowledged there would generation investment in
coronavirus pandemic. emony. "But to do it now, contemplates a reelection be "benefit" through exten- addressing the long-term
The measure is paid for by with only 50 Democratic bid. sions on tax credits for re- effects of climate change,
new taxes on large com- votes in the Senate, over The White House an- newable energy projects as well as drought in the
panies and stepped-up IRS an intransigent Republican nounced Monday that it like solar and wind. nation's West.
enforcement of wealthy in- minority, is nothing short of was going to deploy Biden "I think it's too much spend- The bill will direct spend-
dividuals and entities, with amazing." and members of his Cabi- ing, too much taxing, and ing, tax credits and loans
additional funds going to Biden signed the bill into net on a "Building a Better in my view wrong priorities, to bolster technology like
reduce the federal deficit. law during a small ceremo- America Tour" to promote and a super-charged, su- solar panels, consumer ef-
In a triumphant signing ny in the State Dining Room the recent victories. One per-sized IRS that is going to forts to improve home en-
event at the White House, of the White House, sand- of Biden's trips will be to be going after a lot of not ergy efficiency, emission-
Biden pointed to the law wiched between his return Ohio, where he'll view the just high-income taxpayers reducing equipment for
as proof that democracy from a six-day beachside groundbreaking of a semi- but a lot of mid-income tax- coal- and gas-powered
— no matter how long or vacation in South Carolina conductor plant that will payers," said Thune, speak- power plants, and air pollu-
messy the process — can and his departure for his benefit from the recent ing at a Chamber of Com- tion controls for farms, ports
still deliver for voters in home in Wilmington, Dela- law to bolster production merce event in Sioux Falls. and low-income commu-
America as he road-tested ware. He plans to hold a of such computer chips. He The administration has dis- nities. Another $64 billion
a line he will likely repeat larger "celebration" for the will also stop in Pennsylva- puted that anyone but high would help 13 million peo-
later this fall ahead of the legislation on Sept. 6 once nia to promote his adminis- earners will face increased ple pay premiums over the
midterms: "The American lawmakers return to Wash- tration's plan for safer com- tax scrutiny, with Treasury next three years for private-
people won, and the spe- ington. munities, a visit that had Secretary Janet Yellen di- ly bought health insurance
cial interests lost." The signing caps a spurt of been planned the same recting the tax agency to under the Affordable Care
"In this historic moment, legislative productivity for day he tested positive for focus solely on businesses Act. Medicare would gain
Democrats sided with the Biden and Congress, who COVID-19 last month. and people earning more the power to negotiate its
American people, and in three months have ap- Biden also plans to hold a than $400,000 per year for costs for pharmaceuticals,
every single Republican proved legislation on veter- Cabinet meeting to discuss the new audits. initially in 2026 for only 10
in the Congress sided with ans' benefits, the semicon- how to implement the new The measure is a slimmed- drugs. Medicare beneficia-
the special interests in this ductor industry and gun climate and health care down version of the more ries' out-of-pocket prescrip-
vote," Biden said, repeat- checks for young buyers. law. ambitious plan to super- tion costs would be limited
edly seizing on the contrast The president and lawmak- Republicans say the legis- charge environment and to $2,000 annually starting
between his party and the ers have also responded to lation's new business taxes social programs that Biden in 2025, and beginning next
GOP. "Every single one." Russia's invasion of Ukraine will increase prices, worsen- and his party unveiled early year would pay no more
The House on Friday ap- and overwhelmingly sup- ing the nation's bout with last year. than $35 monthly for insulin,
proved the measure on a ported NATO membership its highest inflation since Biden's initial 10-year, $3.5 the costly diabetes drug.
party-line 220-207 vote. It for Sweden and Finland. 1981. Though Democrats trillion proposal also envi- Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.,
passed the Senate days With Biden's approval rat- have labeled the measure sioned free prekindergar- a powerful political ally to
earlier with Vice President ing lagging, Democrats the Inflation Reduction Act, ten, paid family and medi- Biden, noted during the
Kamala Harris breaking a are hoping that the string nonpartisan analysts say it cal leave, expanded Medi- White House ceremony
50-50 tie in that chamber. of successes will jump-start will have a barely percep- care benefits and eased that his late wife, Emily, who
"In normal times, getting their chances of maintain- tible impact on prices. immigration restrictions. battled diabetes for three
these bills done would be ing control in Washington Senate Minority Whip John That crashed after centrist decades, would be "be-
a huge achievement," Sen- in the November midterms. Thune, R-S.D., on Tuesday Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. yond joy" if she were alive
ate Majority Leader Chuck The 79-year-old president continued those same Va., said it was too costly, today because of the insu-
Schumer, D-N.Y., said dur- aims to restore his own criticisms, although he ac- using the leverage every lin cap.q