WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Friday issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act:

“I applaud Democrats in the House of Representatives for uniting to pass the Build Back Better Act. Now the legislation comes to the Senate where I hope to see it strengthened in a number of ways.

“The American people overwhelmingly demand that we ask the wealthy and large corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. That’s what we must do. The American people overwhelmingly demand that we take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and lower the cost of prescription drugs. That’s what we must do. The American people overwhelmingly demand that we expand Medicare to cover dental, eyeglasses and hearing aids. That’s what we must do. The American people understand that we must act now to combat the existential threat of climate change and transform our energy system away from fossil fuels. That’s what we must do.

“The Senate has an opportunity to make this a truly historic piece of legislation. We will listen to the demands of the American people and strengthen the Build Back Better Act.”