Senate Democrats and Republicans on Wednesday appeared to clinch a deal that would invest roughly $1 trillion into the nation’s infrastructure. The new agreement — announced separately by two of its lead negotiators, Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), ends the wrangling over the policy specifics in a bipartisan infrastructure deal outlined back in June.
The agreement puts the Senate on track to hold a key procedural vote today, July 28, that would allow the chamber to actually begin debating the contents of the infrastructure measure. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has said he hopes to pass the package before the August recess.
It is by no means clear that Democrats in the Senate or House will be able to hold together their narrow majorities or that enough Republicans in the Senate will actually vote for the package to turn it into law.
Democrats plan to try to move a second, roughly $3.5 trillion package essentially in tandem using budget reconciliation, a process that allows budget legislation to pass with just 51 votes in the Senate.
