The Senate chamber today approved in detail the National Reconstruction and Economic Development and Social Progress bill, allowing the initiative to complete its second constitutional reading and continue its discussion in the Chamber of Deputies.

The vote took place following the Executive's submission of a series of amendments designed to refine the bill, developed through an extensive dialogue process with all political sectors. Those amendments were approved by majority in the Finance, Labor, and Environment committees before the initiative reached the chamber floor.

Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz valued the voting result and the work completed in this stage. "Three months ago we arrived with a very clear mission: to give our country the tools to progress, create employment, and rebuild what fire destroyed in Biobío and Ñuble. That it has gotten this far is the result of the work of many people," he stated.

The minister framed the initiative's scope: "the technical numbers matter, but what matters more is what lies behind them: Chileans who need the economy to move."

The bill is organized around five pillars. The first is reconstruction of areas affected by wildfires in Ñuble, Biobío, and Valparaíso, so that families can recover their homes and neighborhoods. The second is reactivation of the construction sector, so the industry returns to building and hiring, and clears the path for Chilean families toward homeownership. The third is restoration of tax competitiveness, so that investing and entrepreneurship in Chile becomes attractive again. The fourth is regulatory streamlining, to unlock stalled investment projects that can be sources of opportunity for the regions. And the fifth is fiscal responsibility, so that public resources are used efficiently.

The minister summarized the practical effects of these measures: "What changes with this law? A family that today has no job will have more possibilities of finding one. A company that today cannot invest will be able to do so. A person who lost their home in the wildfires will have a legal framework that accelerates their reconstruction. That is what is concrete."

The Ministry of Finance thanked all political sectors for their contributions during the legislative process. The amendments incorporated reflect observations that emerged from those conversations, and their approval in the committees and in the chamber reflects shared work between the Executive and the different sectors represented in Congress.

"I want, on behalf of the government, to thank the Senate President, Paulina Núñez, for calling for that dialogue—it was very important, because (…) it made it possible to enrich many aspects of this bill," the minister stated, adding: "This is an important step, but it is not the last. We have work ahead with deputies in the Chamber."

With this step, discussion advances toward its third constitutional reading in the Chamber of Deputies. The minister projected that stage in affirming that "once this law is approved, we will implement it and will continue working with the same determination with which we have driven the work to this point." The Ministry of Finance reiterated its full willingness to continue dialogue with all sectors, with the conviction that an initiative of this magnitude is strengthened when it incorporates different perspectives that concentrate efforts on reactivating the economy, driving investment, and creating more and better jobs.

"Chile needs to grow and this bill makes it possible," the minister concluded.