With Democrats Divided, Advocates Push To Save Key Education Priorities In Biden ‘Build Back Better’ Plan

With Democrats Divided, Advocates Push to Save Key Education Priorities in Biden ‘Build Back Better’ Plan

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The House will reconvene on Friday morning to resume the discussion on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill after it failed to secure a vote on Thursday night.

Negotiations are ongoing to secure the support of moderate Democrats for President Joe Biden’s separate social spending bill. Progressives require this deal to be in place before they vote in favor of the infrastructure package.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that significant progress has been made this week, bringing the parties closer to reaching an agreement. However, the work is not yet complete, and additional time will be needed to finalize it, starting from tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, President Biden signed a continuing resolution on Thursday night to prevent a government shutdown. This resolution grants the Senate until December 3 to work on the fiscal year 2022 budget. The proposed budget includes substantial increases for Title I, special education, and community schools.

In a statement, President Biden expressed the need for further action, acknowledging that there is still much more to be done. He emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration and stated that this bill’s passage serves as a reminder of its possibility. Moreover, it allows time for longer-term funding to keep the government operational and fulfill the needs of the American people.

However, Democrats proposed including provisions to raise the debt ceiling, which is projected to be reached on October 18. Republicans opposed this plan.

With Congress addressing multiple budget-related issues this week, advocates are primarily focused on preserving President Biden’s ambitious agenda for schools and families.

The proposed "Build Back Better" plan, worth $3.5 trillion, aims to reduce the financial burden on families. It includes significant funding increases for early childhood education, teacher and principal training, school construction, and community colleges. Although Democrats are utilizing a reconciliation process that does not require Republican support, they currently lack sufficient backing to pass the bill.

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, along with fellow Democrat Krysten Sinema of Arizona, opposes this extensive legislation. In a statement, Manchin emphasized the importance of targeted social programs and fiscal feasibility. While he hopes for common ground to facilitate an investment in the nation, he cannot support excessive spending or an all-or-nothing approach that ignores the grim fiscal reality.

The debate surrounding President Biden’s agenda has exposed divisions among Democrats, while Republicans stand united against compromise proposals. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package has sparked significant disagreement within the Democratic party. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been contemplating whether to hold a vote on Thursday. Moderates have called for voting on the funding for roads, bridges, and broadband, while progressives refuse to support the infrastructure bill unless the larger reconciliation bill receives a vote first.

Progressives remain unwavering in their stance and are committed to fighting for the Build Back Better agenda. They intend to deliver the entire agenda to the American people.

Adding to the tension, Congress aims to prevent a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution that extends beyond the fiscal year. Democrats are also faced with a deadline of October 18 to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its loans.

On Wednesday, the House passed a bill to raise the government’s $28 trillion debt limit along party lines. However, it is unlikely to pass in the Senate. Defaulting on loans can result in a recession, hinder economic growth, and make it substantially more challenging to cover the costs of the reconciliation bill if it is approved.

Democrats argue that the increase in spending is partially attributed to the Trump administration, and thus, Republicans should share the responsibility of raising the limit. However, Republicans argue that as long as Democrats control Congress and the White House, they can include it in their reconciliation bill.

The ongoing impasse has raised concerns about the bill’s chances of survival.

Lowering the overall price tag, potentially to as low as $1.5 trillion, could lead to intense internal conflicts among Democrats and test their various priorities, according to Hess. Mary Filardo, the executive director of the 21st Century School Fund, has been advocating for the inclusion of $82 billion for school construction and repairs in the final package. However, she has noticed a lack of awareness among Senate staff about the issue, indicating that it may not be considered a top priority. Cutting school construction funding could also have consequences for another important component of the package, universal preschool, as schools would need to accommodate more pre-K students.

There is room for negotiation on the funding amounts for major provisions like pre-K, child care, and free community college, according to some experts. Julia Martin, legislative director at Brustein and Manasevit, suggests that these programs could still be effective even with reduced funding. On the other hand, Shantel Meek, a professor at Arizona State University, emphasizes the importance of maintaining both access and quality in universal pre-K to fulfill its potential.

There are concerns about whether smaller provisions, such as the $4 billion for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which addresses the digital divide for students learning remotely, will be included in the final package. The goal is to ensure that students have reliable connectivity and devices for remote learning. The program, initially part of the American Rescue Plan, has awarded over $1.2 billion to schools, libraries, and organizations so far.

Even if education-related proposals remain in the package, negotiators may lower the final cost by increasing states’ share of the financial burden. This approach could lead to varying implementation across states and hinder their access to funds. Linda Smith, director of the Bipartisan Policy Institute’s Early Childhood Development Initiative, mentions the possibility of limiting the coverage period or targeting the program to children with greater needs, but acknowledges the difficulty of doing so after the promise of universal access by the president. Despite the challenges, Smith remains hopeful that early-childhood proposals will be a significant part of the final plan.