A bipartisan infrastructure investment bill advanced in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, passing a key milestone that moves the emerging legislation toward formal debate and possible passage, Reuters reports.
The price tag is roughly $1 trillion.
The Senate voted 67-32 to take the first procedural step toward debating the measure that has the support of President Biden.
The bipartisan agreement gained the support of all 48 Democrats, two independents and 17 Republicans on this first procedural vote. Additional procedural votes and debate on the bill itself were expected, possibly into the weekend or beyond.
Democrats intend the bill--which includes funding for roads, bridges, broadband and other physical infrastructure--to be the first of a pair of packages, followed by a $3.5 trillion "human infrastructure" package that faces staunch Republican opposition and some dissent among moderate Democrats.
Republicans blocked a similar move last week, saying details were not nailed down. In the latest bill, details on transit and broadband were still being finalized but lawmakers said legislative text would be completed soon, according to Reuters.
Wednesday's agreement includes $110 billion for roads, $73 billion for power grid spending, $66 billion for railways, $65 billion to expand broadband access, $55 billion for clean drinking water, $50 billion for environmental resiliency, $39 billion for public transit, and $25 billion for airports, the White House said.
You can read more from the Reuters story here.
Source: Reuters
