‘We have the votes’: Senate advances Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal

The Senate voted to advance President Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure package on Wednesday, only hours after a bipartisan group of lawmakers finalized the deal. 

In a 67-32 vote, the chamber advanced the bill in a crucial test vote. The legislation cleared the 60-vote hurdle with 17 Republicans joining all 50 Senate Democrats.

The pace was quicker than the usually plodding Senate as lawmakers prepared to leave Washington for a month-long summer break.

“I’ve said for weeks that we intend to move two things in July,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said of the infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion package of social welfare programs.

Mr. Schumer‘s ability to also reach a deal on the $3.5 trillion package, however, was thrown into doubt when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona Democrat, withdrew her support because of the huge price tag.

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The majority leader moved toward a vote on the infrastructure bill shortly after President Biden and a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators announced a formal agreement. Roughly $550 billion in the $1.2 trillion package would come from new revenue.

More than $110 billion of the new funding would go to roads, bridges and other major projects. More than $40 billion is earmarked for upgrades to airports, waterways and seaports, and more than $55 billion would go to clean water infrastructure, according to an outline of the deal.

The package reflected the priorities of both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans secured more than $65 billion to expand broadband access, especially in rural areas. Democrats got $39 billion for public transit on top of a $66 billion investment in Amtrak.