'Historic moment!' Joe Biden signs $430billion climate bill into law as GOP issues warning

The bill is designed to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions as well as lowering prescription drug prices and higher inflation. At a White House event to celebrate the signing of the bill, the 46th US President was joined by Democratic leaders whose support was crucial in passing the Inflation Reduction Act.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who is often labelled as the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, had previously thwarted green measures proposed by the Biden administration.

Following the 2020 elections, the senate is split 50:50 between the Democrats and Republicans, giving Mr Manchin a huge sway as his vote is crucial for the Biden administration to pass bills into law.

However, Mr Biden said of Mr Manchin: “Joe, we never had a doubt.”

The President then handed Mr Manchin the pen he used to sign the legislation.

Mr Manchin called the legislation a “balanced bill”.

At the signing, Mr Biden took the opportunity to criticise Republicans for opposing the legislation.

He said: “In this historic moment, Democrats sided with the American people and every single Republican sided with the special interests.

“Every single Republican in Congress voted against this bill.” 

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Although rating agencies agree, they also argue that the results will take years.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was also present at the signing of the bill.

Mr Schumer argued that Mr Biden had conducted the negotiations over the bill while knowing when to get involved and when to step back.

He said: “He knew precisely when to step in and when to let negotiations play out.

“He knew when to use the bully pulpit and when to bring people together away from the spotlight.

“He made sure we never lost our focus on climate.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticised the bill arguing that it would make inflation worse.

He said: “Democrats robbed Americans last year by spending our economy into record inflation.

“This year, their solution is to do it a second time.

“The partisan bill President Biden signed into law today means higher taxes, higher energy bills, and aggressive IRS audits.”

source: express.co.uk