In a statement, Mr. Manchin, who has been his party’s mainstay on a sweeping package of social, climate and tax policies, reaffirmed his support for the measure in a statement that did not elaborate on its exact components. But in the statement, he signaled support for climate and energy programs, as well as some tax provisions, which he had previously suggested he could not support because of inflation concerns. It was not clear what had changed his mind about the plan, which just weeks ago he said he could not support until he saw more financial data next month. “Instead of risking more inflation with trillions in new spending, this bill will lower the inflationary taxes Americans pay, lower health insurance and prescription drug costs, and ensure our country invests in energy security and solutions climate change that we need to remain a global superpower through innovation, not elimination,” Mr. Manchin said in a statement. Mr. Manchin christened the bill the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, clearly distinguishing it from the ambitious multitrillion-dollar domestic policy plan proposed by President Biden and congressional Democrats spent most of last year trying to pass . “Build Back Better is dead, and instead we have an opportunity to make our country stronger by bringing Americans together,” Mr. Manchin said. “I will do everything I can to usher in a new era of compromise and common sense that will make America more energy secure, economically sound and a more united country for this generation and the next.” Democrats had resigned themselves to passing a narrow package aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and extending expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies before leaving for the August recess, after Mr. Manchin privately told party leaders that month that he would not support any climate or tax proposals in the short term.
