Biden revives climate portion of failed Build Back Better bill

Enlarge / President Joe Biden talks to reporters during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on January 19, 2022, in Washington, DC. (credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden yesterday expressed support for breaking up the Build Back Better Act, saying that the parts intended to combat climate change appear to have the most support.

I think we can break the package up, get as much as we can now, and come back and fight for the rest later," Biden said at a press conference. I'm confident we can get pieces-big chunks-of the Build Back Better law signed into law."

The initial Build Back Better bill contained provisions for universal preschool, paid family leave, and free community college in addition to clean energy tax credits and other climate-related measures. That bill, which weighed in at $3.5 trillion, was met with skepticism by some moderate Democrats and was pared down to $1.75 trillion after jettisoning free community college and 12-week paid family leave.

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