White House backs including citizenship pathway in budget bill

[July 16, 2021]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said it would support efforts to include a pathway to U.S. citizenship in a separate reconciliation bill being pushed by Senate Democrats, saying it was up to lawmakers to hammer out the final package.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House at a celebration of Independence Day in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

Asked if the White House was on board with including the immigration provision, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a news briefing yes. She added President Joe Biden would do "whatever is needed" to help the budget measure pass Congress.

The proposed $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill is separate from a planned $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Lisa Lambert; writing by Susan Heavey)

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