Biden’s social agenda advances as US House passes budget plan

Ambitious proposals to expand childcare, shift the US to clean energy, other social programmes depend on Democratic unity.

Democratic leaders in the United States House of Representatives have passed a $3.5 trillion budget plan to include key parts of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda after resolving divisions between centrists and progressives within their party. With Tuesday’s vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi notched a victory with quick approval of the budget outline. The bill enables legislators to begin filling in details on a sweeping package that would boost spending on childcare, clean energy, education and other social programmes in addition to tax increases on the wealthy and corporations.