Although Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced he will vote against the bill, Democrats are seeking to amend the bill to gain his support. The Senate is the primary obstacle to enacting S. 1/ H.R. 1; tell your senators to oppose any version of this bill!

H.R. 1, sponsored by John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and co-sponsored by Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), was introduced on January 4, 2021, immediately after start of the 117th Congress. The Senate version, S. 1, sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), has 48 co-sponsors and was introduced on March 17, 2021.

As the bill number suggests, the bill is a top priority for Congressional Democrats. Additionally, now that Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House, a possibility exists that this bill could pass and be enacted.

On March 3, 2021, the House passed H.R. 1 on a 220-210 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.