The year 2023 has been a tumultuous one for the US Congress, with several major bills and events shaping the legislative agenda and the political landscape. Here are some of the highlights of what happened in Congress in 2023 so far:
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: After months of negotiations, President Biden signed into law a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on January 31, 2023. The bill provides funding for roads, bridges, broadband, water systems, public transit, electric vehicles, and other projects.
The bill also includes provisions to address climate change, such as creating a national network of electric vehicle charging stations, investing in clean energy research and development, and establishing a Civilian Climate Corps. The bill was hailed as a historic achievement by both parties, although some progressives criticized it for not going far enough to tackle the climate crisis.
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The Build Back Better Act: Following the passage of the infrastructure bill, Democrats turned their attention to passing a larger social spending and climate package through the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to bypass a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
The bill, dubbed the Build Back Better Act, originally had a price tag of $3.5 trillion over 10 years, but faced resistance from moderate Democrats who demanded lower spending and more targeted programs. After weeks of intense negotiations, the bill was scaled back to $1.75 trillion, and included measures such as expanding Medicare, extending the child tax credit, creating universal pre-K and free community college, subsidizing childcare and home care, and implementing a range of climate policies.
The bill passed the House on November 19, 2023, by a narrow margin of 220-213, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in voting against it. The bill is now awaiting Senate action, where it faces an uncertain fate due to the slim Democratic majority and the possibility of further changes or amendments.
The Debt Ceiling Crisis: In October 2023, the US government faced the risk of defaulting on its debt obligations for the first time in history, as Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling before the deadline of October 18. The debt ceiling is a legal limit on how much the government can borrow to pay its bills and has been raised or suspended dozens of times in the past without much controversy.
However, this time Republicans refused to cooperate with Democrats on raising the debt ceiling, arguing that they should not enable more spending by the Biden administration. Democrats accused Republicans of playing political games with the full faith and credit of the US and warned that a default would have catastrophic consequences for the economy and national security.
After a tense standoff that rattled financial markets and sparked public outrage, Congress finally reached a deal on October 14 to raise the debt ceiling by $480 billion, enough to cover the government’s expenses until early December. The deal was approved by both chambers and signed by President Biden on October 15, averting a default by just three days. However, the deal only postponed the problem until December 3, when the new debt ceiling will be reached unless Congress acts again.
The January 6 Commission: One of the most contentious issues in Congress this year has been the investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by a mob of former President Trump’s supporters who tried to stop the certification of Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. In May 2023, the House passed a bill to create an independent commission to probe the causes and consequences of the attack, modeled after the 9/11 Commission.
However, the bill was blocked by Senate Republicans who argued that it was unnecessary and partisan. Instead, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed a select committee composed of seven Democrats and two Republicans (Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger) who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection.
The committee has been holding hearings and issuing subpoenas to witnesses and documents related to the attack, including former White House officials and members of Congress who communicated with Trump on January 6. The committee has faced resistance from some Republicans who have tried to undermine its legitimacy and obstruct its work. The committee is expected to release its final report by early 2024.