EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Trump Expands U.S. Travel Ban to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sparking Economic Fears in the Caribbean 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
U.S. Senators Move Toward Deal to Strengthen Military Helicopter Safety Rules 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Honduras Election Recount Delayed Amid Protests and Political Tensions 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
With the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law this week, Congress is set to pass another bill that makes up another major part of US President Joe Biden’s agenda. National Economic Council director Brian Deese said that the House would take up a vote on the social infrastructure bill this week.
In his appearance at CNN’s “State of the Union” over the weekend, Deese predicted that the House would vote on the social infrastructure package this week when it returns. Deese said he is confident that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will bring the proposal to the floor, securing enough votes for the bill to pass and move to the Senate. This follows months of negotiations amongst factions of the Democratic Party regarding the provisions included in the bill.
“We are confident that Speaker Pelosi is going to bring it up and that it will pass this week. We will move forward to the next process and moving it to the Senate,” said Deese.
The social infrastructure package would have provisions to address climate change, paid leave, reduced drug prices, worker training, as well as provisions for care and education. From the original $3.5 trillion price tag spaced out over 10 years, it was reduced to $1.75 trillion.
Deese linked the passage of the bill to inflation, saying during an interview at ABC’s “This Week” that the BBB bill would lower inflation rather than contribute to it. Deese noted that economists have looked over the proposal and concluded that the bill would not add to long-term inflation pressure.
Pelosi had already touted the provisions of the bill during her attendance at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow last week. The House Speaker was among the US congressional delegation and Cabinet members in attendance at the conference, following Biden’s attendance at the summit shortly after the G20 conference.
“Our legislation is far-reaching, ensuring that future economy is greener and cleaner,” said Pelosi during a press conference in Glasgow.
“That means $250 billion in clean energy tax credits to develop and deploy the latest in future generations of clean power,” Pelosi added. “That means over $100 billion in addition for resilience including climate-smart agriculture and nature-based climate solutions; another $100 billion toward local and region-led climate and over $222 billion for environmental justice.”
