«Κανείς δεν πήρε όλα όσα ήθελε, αλλά ο αμερικανικός λαός πήρε αυτό που χρειαζόταν», είπε ο Μπάιντεν, υπογραμμίζοντας τον «συμβιβασμό και τη συναίνεση» στη συμφωνία. «Αποτρέψαμε μια οικονομική κρίση και μια οικονομική κατάρρευση».

Biden used the opportunity to itemise the achievements of his first term as he runs for re-election, including support for high-tech manufacturing, infrastructure investments and financial incentives for fighting climate change. He also highlighted ways he blunted Republican efforts to roll back his agenda and achieve deeper cuts.

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“We’re cutting spending and bringing deficits down at the same time,” Biden said. “We’re protecting important priorities from Social Security to Medicare to Medicaid to veterans to our transformational investments in infrastructure and clean energy.”

Even as he pledged to continue working with Republicans, Biden also drew contrasts with the opposing party, particularly when it comes to raising taxes on the wealthy, something the Democratic president has sought.

It is something he suggested may need to wait until a second term. “I’m going to be coming back,” he said. “With your help, I’m going to win.”

‘Good of the country’

Biden’s remarks were the most detailed comments from the Democratic president on the compromise he and his staff negotiated. He largely remained quiet publicly during the high-stakes talks, a decision that frustrated some members of his party but was intended to give space for both sides to reach a deal and for lawmakers to vote it to his desk.

Biden praised McCarthy and his negotiators for operating in good faith, and all congressional leaders for ensuring swift passage of the legislation. “They acted responsibly, and put the good of the country ahead of politics,” he said.

Overall, the 99-page bill restricts spending for the next two years and changes some policies, including imposing new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and greenlighting an Appalachian natural gas pipeline that many Democrats oppose. Some environmental rules were modified to help streamline approvals for infrastructure and energy projects – a move long sought by moderates in Congress.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that it could actually expand total eligibility for federal food assistance with the elimination of work requirements for veterans, homeless people and young people leaving foster care.

The legislation also bolstered funds for defence and veterans, cut back some new money for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and rejected Biden’s call to roll back Trump-era tax breaks on corporations and the wealthy to help cover the nation’s deficits.

But the White House said the IRS’s plans to step up enforcement of tax laws for high-income earners and corporations would continue.

The agreement imposed an automatic overall 1 percent cut to spending programmes if Congress failed to approve its annual spending bills – a measure designed to pressure lawmakers of both parties to reach consensus before the end of the fiscal year in September.

In both chambers, more Democrats backed the legislation than Republicans, but both parties were critical to its passage.

Στη Γερουσία, ο απολογισμός ήταν 63-36, συμπεριλαμβανομένων 46 Δημοκρατικών και ανεξάρτητων και 17 Ρεπουμπλικανών υπέρ, 31 Ρεπουμπλικανών μαζί με τέσσερις Δημοκρατικούς και ενός ανεξάρτητου που συνέρχεται με τους Δημοκρατικούς αντίθετους.

Η ψηφοφορία στη Βουλή ήταν 314-117.