"Historic legislation": The US Senate approved a plan to deal with the climate crisis | Israel Today

Early Monday morning, the US Senate passed legislation allocating 369 billion dollars to deal with the climate crisis, the most economically significant legislation of its kind in history.

The Democratic Party celebrated the achievement after all of the party's senators voted in favor of the legislation, including the use of a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Kamala Harris.

This is a narrow but necessary achievement for the Biden administration, which comes a few months before the mid-term elections for Congress, which will likely result in the loss of the Democratic majority in the Senate.

The bill that was accepted is a compromise within the ranks of the Democratic Party and is significantly reduced from the original proposal, following the opposition of two Democratic senators to the scope of the original proposal.

Among the other sections included in the previous proposal is a budget to encourage the transition to electric cars with the help of tax breaks, the establishment of a fund to encourage the development of renewable energy technology and aid to communities affected by climate change.

The Capitol building in Washington // Photo: Reuters

The leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Senator Chuck Schumer, said upon the passage of the legislation: "After more than a year of hard work, the Senate is making history. For the Americans who have lost faith that Congress is capable of passing large or significant legislation, this law is for you."

There were also moments of excitement after the legislation was passed.

Senator Brian Schatz, from the state of Hawaii, wept with excitement and said: "Now I can look my child in the eye and tell him that we did something about the climate crisis."

After passing the Senate, the legislation is expected to reach the US House of Representatives this week, where it is expected to pass easily due to the majority the Democrats hold in the lower house of Congress.

The Republican Party expressed frustration with the passage of the law.

Senator Marco Rubio of the state of Florida said that the passage of the law shows a "disconnection from the needs of the average working person such as fighting inflation and putting criminals in prison."

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