Biden to host lawmakers at White House next week amid impasse on his agenda

President Biden will host congressional lawmakers at the White House next week after a visit to Capitol Hill failed to yield any clear breakthrough on how to pass two key pieces of his economic agenda.

“As the President made clear yesterday during his meeting with the House Democratic Caucus, the American people are relying on Congress to get both the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better plan done,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Saturday.

“He left the meeting yesterday with the firm belief that there was a shared commitment from across the Democratic Caucus to deliver for the American people,” she continued. “The President and his team will continue close engagement with Members of both the House and the Senate through the weekend. And he looks forward to not only welcoming Members to the White House next week, but also traveling the country to make the case for his bold and ambitious agenda.”

Biden told reporters on Saturday morning before leaving for Delaware that “there’s no reason” both the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a larger reconciliation package funding health care, education and climate change programs cannot pass.

“Everybody is frustrated. That’s part of being in government, being frustrated,” Biden said.

Biden’s meetings next week with lawmakers reflect increased involvement in recent days as he attempts to mediate differences between moderates and progressives over how to proceed with passing his agenda.

The president on Friday traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with the House Democratic Caucus, where he urged them to pass both pieces of legislation but did not call on members to do so on any particular timeline. 

“It doesn’t matter when. It doesn’t matter whether it’s six minutes, six days or six weeks. We’re gonna get it done,” Biden told reporters after the meeting.

Some moderate Democrats left the meeting frustrated by the lack of urgency to immediately pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill, particularly after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had signaled there would be a vote on the legislation during the week. 

“Why are we having a conversation again if there’s not a change in status, right? Why would we sit, why would we have an hourlong meeting to talk about all the things we agree on and then not decide on doing anything new?” said vulnerable Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.).