The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed the Democrat-sponsored “Build Back Better Act” by a vote of 220-213.
Alabama’s GOP congressional delegation voted against the $1.75 trllion social and climate spending package by a margin of 6-1, with the lone vote in favor of the bill coming from U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham).
According to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates, President Joe Biden’s signature legislation is projected to add $367 billion to the nation’s deficit over a 10-year span.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) slammed the bill, asserting that it would serve to exacerbate the nation’s debt crisis.
He stated, “This morning, I voted against the Democrats’ so-called ‘Build Back Better Act,’ because this bill is slap full of horrible policies, including tax increases on hardworking Americans, trillions in new spending, trillions in new debt, 150 new government programs, a massive increase in the size of the IRS, and amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.”
“I urge my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to kill this bill and save the American people from trillions of dollars in reckless and irresponsible spending on wasteful programs that will do nothing more than saddle our children and grandchildren with an unbelievable amount of debt,” the South Alabama congressman concluded.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) outlined his opposition to what he called Biden’s “egregious” spending package.
“President Biden’s socialist scheme will tax middle class Americans and subsidize Green New Deal initiatives while hurting American energy development,” advised Rogers. “This deal also includes amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants while the crisis at our southern border rages on. Their desperation to pass this legislation proves what we’ve known all along – Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden are out of touch with Americans. I will be standing up for my constituents and voting no President Biden’s egregious Build Back Broke scheme.”
In detailing his objection to the massive spending bill, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) cited the nation’s current inflation woes, indicating that the plan would further intensify the situation.
“Inflation is at a 30-year high, and Socialist Democrats care not one twit,” proclaimed Brooks. “They ignore the economic reality of massive government spending and welfare give-a-way programs that encourage welfare recipients to mooch off the hard work of others and cause inflation that ravages working American citizen pocketbooks. The economics are simple: when you print money out of thin air that money becomes less valuable. Socialist Democrats are ignorant and clueless of basic economics.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) declared that the spending plan was “the most reckless tax and spending bill in our nation’s history.” He further added, “Make no mistake: This bill is nothing more than a wish list of Far-Left Socialist policies that the American people have already rejected.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) stated, “Americans are already hurting from inflation that’s the highest in a generation. Adding trillions upon trillions of more spending will only make this worse. Build Back Better is filled with new taxes on hardworking Americans. It gives tax cuts to the wealthy, hikes taxes on middle-class families, and adds hundreds of billions to the already morbidly obese national debt.”
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) took to social media to outline progressive provisions included within the bill.
The CBO confirmed that the Dem #BuildBackBroke Act would add $367 BILLION to our deficit over the next decade. It also includes:
❌ Mass amnesty
❌ Huge tax breaks for the wealthy
❌ Crippling tax burdens on small businesses
❌ Taxpayer funded abortionThis must be stopped.
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) November 19, 2021
Sewell, the sole Democrat representing Alabama in Congress, praised the lower chamber’s passage of what she referred to as a “transformational” bill.
For too long, those at the top have seen their fortunes grow while hard-working Americans have been squeezed. Not anymore—the #BuildBackBetter Act uplifts Alabama’s most underserved communities with transformational progress! Together, we will continue to deliver #ForThePeople!!
— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) November 19, 2021
The “Build Back Better Act” will now head to the U.S. Senate, where the bill’s fate remains uncertain due to concerns expressed by moderate Democrats in the upper chamber.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL