US House panel sets debate on its portion of $3.5-trillion bill

WASHINGTON — A US House of Representatives committee this week will attempt to advance sweeping legislation to expand healthcare benefits for the elderly and other social services as part of Democrats’ $3.5-trillion domestic investment plan.

The House Ways and Means Committee plans to debate a wide-ranging measure on Thursday and Friday. The package is expected to draw lock-step opposition from Republicans, and also faces uncertain support from Democrats with key Senate moderate Joe Manchin objecting to its large size.

“Later this week, the Ways and Means Committee will put an end to the idea that only some workers are worthy of ‘perks’ like paid leave, child care, and assistance in saving for retirement, and finally commit to investments that make these supports fixtures of the American workplace,” committee Chairman Richard Neal said in a statement.

But already there was talk of reducing the $3.5-trillion price of the legislation.

Passage in the Senate will require the support of all 50 Democrats, who aim to use a maneuver called “reconciliation“which would allow them to pass the legislation by a simple majority vote instead of the 60 votes needed for most bills in the 100-member chamber.

President Joseph R. Biden told reporters late on Tuesday that he thought he could work out an agreement with Manchin.

“Joe at the end has always been there. He’s always been with me. I think we can work something out, and I look forward to speaking with him,” Mr. Biden said as he returned to the White House after touring sites of deadly floods in the Northeast.

Axios later on Tuesday cited sources as saying that Manchin would support just $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion in spending. —