Cheers erupted as the Democratic-majority House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act on Friday after hours of heated partisan debate.
With 220 yeas and 207 nays, the bill now goes to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law.
The spending bill is aimed at tackling climate change, the high cost of prescription drugs and lowering Washington's deficit by about $300 billion.
It includes measures such as reducing US carbon emissions by about 40 per cent by 2030, capping insulin costs for qualifying Americans at $35 a month and instituting a 15 per cent corporate minimum tax on businesses making more than $1bn a year.
This is the latest in a series of Democratic-spearheaded bills to go to Mr Biden's desk, including the Chips and Science Act and the Pact Act on veterans' health care.
"Today is a day of celebration. A day we take another giant step in our momentous agenda," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she celebrated on the floor.
In its analysis of the bill, the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would result in a net deficit decrease of $102bn between 2022 and 2031.
“It is a landmark piece of legislation. It is something that a lot of people said could not be done. But we are doing it,” House Majority Whip James Clyburn told reporters in a pre-vote press conference on Friday.
The partisan state of US politics was on full display during Friday's debate on the House floor.
Republican arguments largely centred on false claims that the bill's multibillion-dollar strengthening of the Internal Revenue Service would lead to increased tax audits for ordinary Americans — including an “army of 87,000 IRS agents”, which the US Treasury Department debunked.
Democrats called the claims “misinformation” and “fearmongering”, and stressed that the billions of dollars in new funds for the agency is for increasing agency responsiveness and tackling high-income abuse.
“My Republican friends do not want to give the IRS the ability to go after wealthy tax cheats,” said Democrat James McGovern from Massachusetts.
“But our constituents have to pay their fair share, so these rich people ought to be able to pay their fair share as well.”
Theatre of the absurd
Republican Lauren Boebert claimed that the bill would lead to the IRS committing “armed robbery” against Americans, which elicited groans from her colleagues on the left.
Meanwhile, many House Republicans refuse to refer to the bill by its official name.
“Joe Biden and House Democrats’ Inflation Expansion Act does nothing to address the skyrocketing inflation Americans face daily,” read a statement posted on the Republican Party's website after the bill passed the Senate.
“The best and quickest way to address America’s inflation crisis is to rein in out-of-control government spending.”
The Inflation Reduction Act's journey to the White House has been tumultuous, with Senate Democrats initially squabbling among themselves over the original bill's proposals.
The bill's success in the Senate ultimately hinged on Joe Manchin and Kristen Sinema.
Their objections pushed Democrats to scale back on some of the bill's more ambitious plans, including free pre-kindergarten and paid family and medical leave for workers nationwide — and offered new support for fossil fuels.
The Senate ultimately passed the final bill in a 50-50 weekend vote along party lines. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tiebreaking vote.
Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expressed confidence at a Friday press conference that the Inflation Reduction Act would boost his party's prospects in coming midterm elections.
“The American people will have a clear message,” Mr Hoyer said. “This is what Democrats are going to do for the people putting people over politics and this is what the Republicans are not doing for the people and putting politics above the people.”
But Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gave a warning that hinted at a different outcome of the coming election cycle.
“I ask my colleagues to remember this day,” he said during his floor speech. “Remember this day because it will be the last time the House will operate so recklessly … a new day is coming, with a new plan to put America back on track.”
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
RIVER%20SPIRIT
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
The%20specs
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company%20profile
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
Company%C2%A0profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
