Congressional Progressive Caucus Survey Shows Majority of Respondents Will Withhold Support of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Without Reconciliation Package

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced today that a survey of its 96 members showed that a majority of respondents will not vote for a bipartisan infrastructure bill until the Senate passes a robust budget reconciliation bill to fund the rest of the American Jobs and Families Plans.

The survey asked whether members would commit to withholding a yes vote on the bipartisan infrastructure deal -- Senate Amendment 2137 to H.R. 3684 -- until the Senate has passed budget reconciliation legislation deemed acceptable by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The CPC shared the results in a letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer. "A majority of respondents affirmed that they would withhold their votes in support of the bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package," wrote Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Deputy Chair Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), and Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05).

"These results affirm the urgency of ensuring that the Senate's desire to pass a narrower bipartisan infrastructure agreement does not come at the expense of the full scope investments our communities need, want, and deserve," said Jayapal. "Our Caucus is clear: the bipartisan bill will only be passed if a package of social, human, and climate infrastructure -- reflecting long-standing Democratic priorities -- is passed simultaneously through budget reconciliation. We know that Congressional Democrats are committed to delivering immediate and transformational improvements for the lives of the American people, and will hold firm to meet that promise."

The letter also urged leadership "to continue coordinating closely between the two chambers, collaborating with the White House, and engaging with our caucus so that the reconciliation framework reflects our shared and long-standing investment priorities, and that the Senate first adopts this reconciliation package before any House consideration of bipartisan infrastructure legislation."

The Progressive Caucus first articulated its agenda for this infrastructure investment in a letter to Speaker Pelosi back in April. It detailed the members' five priorities: bold investments in affordable housing; a robust care economy including home-based care, universal child care, and paid leave; expanded Medicare by lowering the eligibility age and covering hearing, vision, and dental while lowering prescription drug prices; aggressive climate action including a fossil fuel free national clean energy standard and a Civilian Climate Corps; and a roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, essential workers, and farmworkers.

Throughout the negotiation process, the CPC has reiterated its commitments to funding these priorities, and was the first to advocate for a simultaneous two-track process that uses bipartisan legislation and budget reconciliation to meet those goals. Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer both endorsed this strategy over the summer.