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This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will tackle two major pieces of legislation that make up a big part of US President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda while dealing with the internal rifts happening within the Democratic Party. Pelosi called the $3.5 trillion social safety net the culmination of her service in Congress.
Speaking with the press Thursday, Pelosi said she told members of the House Democratic leadership what the $3.5 trillion social spending package meant for her. This comes as Democrats in both the House and the Senate scramble to pass both proposals in the midst of rifts among factions in the party. Two Democratic Senators stand in the way of the budget resolution passing, while progressive House Democrats threaten to vote against the bipartisan infrastructure bill if both are not passed at the same time.
“I just told members of my leadership that the reconciliation bill was a culmination of my service in Congress,” said Pelosi. While the House Speaker said that the proposal was a culmination, Pelosi dismissed the notion that it might mean she would be retiring from Congress when pressed on what she meant.
There has been some speculation as to when Pelosi would decide to retire after a 17-year term in Congress. While Pelosi won her fourth term as House Speaker in January, she was still met with some opposition among Democrats who were looking to see new leadership take over. Pelosi previously suggested that her return to being House Speaker when the Democrats won back the majority in 2018 would be her last term.
Meanwhile, Pelosi also met with actor Woody Harrelson, who visited the Capitol this week. Harrelson had been filming in Washington for a new HBO docuseries “White House Plumbers” when he was seen entering Pelosi’s office Wednesday, and both were seen walking into the House chamber. Details of what Harrelson and Pelosi might have discussed were not disclosed.
The actor also stopped to speak with his longtime friend, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, at the Rayburn Room. Harrelson was with his wife Laura Louie and their daughter during his visit.
