President Joe Biden is on the cusp of two back-to-back legislative victories after Congress passed a $280bn package to boost the semiconductor industry while a conservative Democrat unexpectedly swung behind a sweeping tax-and-spend bill.
The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to pass the Chips and Science act, which includes subsidies for the US semiconductor industry. The legislation cleared Congress just hours after Joe Manchin announced a surprise deal with fellow Senate Democrats on a larger tax, climate and social spending bill.
Manchin had opposed such a package until Wednesday evening on the grounds that it would fuel soaring inflation and his U-turn surprised Senate Republicans and his own party.