Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks with reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

CHARLESTON – In an attempt to end speculation regarding where he stands on the $1.2 trillion hard infrastructure package stuck in the U.S. House of Representatives and the now $1.75 trillion package of social spending projects, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin made his views clear Monday.

During a quick briefing with reporters on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon, Manchin, D-W.Va., called on the House to vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the Senate in August. He also urged for a delay in consideration of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan until the text of the bill is released and lawmakers have time to review it.

“For the sake of the country, I urge the House to vote and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill,” Manchin said. “Holding this bill hostage is not going to work in getting my support for the reconciliation bill.”

Also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $1.2 trillion in funding for traditional infrastructure projects, including $550 billion in new infrastructure spending on a multitude of transportation, water and wastewater, clean energy and broadband expansion projects.

The Senate voted 69-30 for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in August. Despite promises to bring the bill to the floor, including a possible vote last week, progressives in the House have held the bill hostage until members can vote for the Build Back Better package that’s been whittled down from $6 trillion to $3.5 trillion to now $1.75 trillion.

“The political games have to stop,” Manchin said. “Twice now, the House has balked at the opportunity to send the BIF legislation to the President. As you’ve heard, there are some House Democrats who say they can’t support this infrastructure package until they get my commitment on the reconciliation legislation. It is time to vote on the BIF bill up-or-down, and then go home and explain to your constituents the decision you made.”

The Senate voted to begin the budget reconciliation process in August, which will allow the Senate to vote for the bill by simple majority versus the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster of the bill. Democrats only have 50 votes plus Vice President Kamala Harris to break a 50-50 tie. Manchin’s support and the support of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., is crucial for the Build Back Better.

Manchin has been a long-time critic of the price tag for the budget reconciliation package, based on Biden’s American Families Plan. The most recent version of the Build Back Better plan includes $1.75 trillion for universal pre-Kindergarten, home healthcare, extension of the child tax credit, clean energy projects and climate change resiliency, expansion of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, adding a hearing benefit to Medicare coverage, affordable housing, and more. The plan is paid for with a corporate minimum tax on large corporations, surcharges on stock buybacks, and IRS enforcement for collection of back taxes.

“I’ve been straightforward about my concerns that I will not support a reconciliation package that expands social programs and irresponsibly adds to our $29 trillion in national debt that no one seems to really care about or even talk about, nor will I support a package that risks hurting American families suffering from historic inflation,” Manchin said.

“Simply put, I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it will have on our national debt, our economy, and most importantly, all of the American people,” Manchin continued. “That is why we must allow time for complete transparency and analysis on the impact of changes to our tax code and energy and climate policies to ensure that our country is well-positioned to remain the superpower of the world while we inspire the rest of the world toward a cleaner environment.”