Student Forum Newsletter

Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes House, Heads to Biden: ON NOV. 5, the House passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill—formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or H.R.3684—which funds a five-year reauthorization of critical federal highway, transit, and safety programs. Passed by the Senate in August, the bill was signed by President Biden on Nov. 15.

CONGRESS is considering a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package which would make community college tuition-free for two years. Those in favor argue everyone should have the opportunity to go to college and cost should never be a barrier to earning a degree. Those against this legislation argue that realistically free tuition sounds great, but the money has to come from somewhere.

Pelosi Sets End-of-October Deadline for Infrastructure Bill Vote as Democrat Discussions Stall: In the first days of October, two huge infrastructure and spending bills central to President Biden’s domestic agenda were caught in limbo as congressional Democrats tried to reach a compromise within their own party. Democratic progressives are pushing to raise the debt ceiling with massive spending bills that cover a broad array of social programs and climate change initiatives. Meanwhile, more moderate Democrats such as Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema say we can’t afford these programs. During an interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told Coates that younger Americans are looking for solutions to climate change and are not concerned about the cost.

Cubans Call for Communism’s End: On JULY 11, Cuban citizens took to the streets for the first time in more than six decades to protest against deteriorating living conditions and the lack of basic goods and services, including medical attention amid increasing numbers of coronavirus infections. The protests began in the western city of San Antonio de los Baños, later spreading to more than 40 cities and towns including the capital Havana. Thousands of people, many of them young, called for an end to the 62-year-old communist regime. Videos depict thousands of Cubans protesting food and COVID vaccine shortages in a rare show of dissent.

President Biden Releases Infrastructure Plan: ON MARCH 31, President Joe Biden called for a $2 trillion investment in the nation’s roads, waterways, airports, electric grid and broadband by releasing his American Jobs Plan. The proposal provides funding for infrastructure, clean energy, innovation and R&D (research and development), manufacturing and workplace support, and the caregiving economy. The $2 trillion investment is sweeping, covering everything from climate change to workforce development, and would amount to an investment of about 1 percent of the GDP per year over eight years, according to a fact sheet on the plan. The price tag could make passage difficult in Congress, especially in the 50-50 Senate.

All ‘Ayes’ on the Senate, Part II: Sen. Joe Manchin Signals Willingness to Reform Filibuster: On March 7, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) indicated he is open to reforming the filibuster to allow more opportunities for Democrats to pass legislation through the Senate along party lines and without relying on Republican support. Manchin, who wields significant power in the evenly divided Senate as a moderate willing to work across party lines, said he believes the filibuster should be made more “painful” to dissuade the minority from using it frequently. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, pressure among Democrats to eliminate the filibuster has been building. Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have said they are against efforts to get rid of the filibuster.