The Senate has passed a $1trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan, advancing a major economic effort by President Joe Biden.
The bill includes about $500billion in new funding for transportation, broadband, and utilities, CNBC reported.
The vote on Tuesday was a resounding 69-30 after 19 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican senator from Kentucky, joined all 50 Democrats.
Following the vote, Biden said from the White House: ‘Today, we proved that democracy can still work.’
‘After years and years of “Infrastructure Week”, we are on the cusp of an infrastructure decade that I truly believe will transform America,’ Biden said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said the Senate would move immediately on a budget resolution that would allow Democrats to approve what they see as a complementary $3.5trillion spending plan without Republican votes.
‘Today, the Senate takes a decades overdue step to revitalize America’s infrastructure and give our workers, our businesses, our economy, the tools to succeed in the 21st century,’ Schumer said Tuesday ahead of the final vote.
Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the final vote even though she was not required to break a tie.
The bipartisan bill is the first of a two-part process. Next is ‘soft infrastructure’ plan that includes combating climate change, that would cost about $3.5trillion, CBS News reported.
The Republican Party are expected to oppose the $3.5trillion spending proposal. To approve the plan without Republicans through a process known as budget reconciliation, Democrats need all 50 of their members to support.
The House is on recess this month and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the chamber will not consider the bipartisan bill until Senate Democrats pass the separate and more expansive package.
‘We can still come together to do big things, important things, for the American people,’ Biden said.
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