Psaki: 'We have every intention of passing Build Back Better'

In a briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that "the climate crisis is going to continue to be front and center" for the Biden administration as it heads into the new year. The comments come in response to news that Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would not support the president's Build Back Better proposal, which contains several key climate provisions, in its current form.

Video transcript

JEN PSAKI: As you know, I think, there are multiple paths to reaching the president's climate goals. We have every intention of passing Build Back Better, which includes enormous climate provisions. I would note that there are a number of steps we have taken without legislation, and certainly, we'll continue to build on that including setting a bold target to cut greenhouse gas pollution in America 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030, tackling super pollutants, phasing down HFCs and addressing methane leaks, rallying the world to focus on methane in Glasgow. We stood with auto workers and America's big car manufacturers to roll out plans to boost electric vehicles and create opportunities to save car owners money. We put America on track for one of every two cars sold to be zero emissions within the decade. And we jumpstarted offshore wind.

I share all of that because that has been done without the benefit, the vast majority of it, of legislation. There are also components in the infrastructure package and law that will also help take steps forward, including the largest investment in passenger rail, helping reduce GHG emissions, building a national network of EV chargers, electrifying thousands of EV school buses, investments in port and airport infrastructure to repair and maintain and reduce congestion. Largest investment in resilience, replacing America's lead pipes and service lines, and the largest investment in tackling legacy pollution. So I would say, we are-- it is clear from the president's accomplishments and agenda to date that climate and the climate crisis is going to continue to be front and center for him. We're absolutely going to working to get Build Back Better done and we are not going to wait to continue to look at a range of options.