China Competition Bill Will Fail If Democrats Pursue Revised Build Back Better Bill: McConnell

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol in Washington on May 25, 2022. Senate Television via AP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on July 7 that Republicans will block the passage of a bill to increase U.S. competitiveness with China if Democrats do not drop efforts to revive the Build Back Better (BBB) social spending package.

In December 2021, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) effectively killed the $1.75 trillion BBB package when he said he would not vote for it over continuing concerns about inflation. Since then, some Democrats have worked behind the scenes to revive the package.