US Senate will vote on $1 trillion infrastructure bill

The US Senate has set a vote for Tuesday to pass a bipartisan $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill, which is a top priority for US President Joe Biden. , and immediately after will begin to debate a bill of greater scope worth 3.5 trillion dollars.

Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced late Monday that the week-long debate on the bipartisan bill will conclude Tuesday at 11 a.m. PST (3 p.m. GMT), when its probable approval is voted.

The Senate is then expected to vote to initiate debate on a broader bill, a budget plan that is a key goal for progressive Democrats.

Several documents released Monday showed that it would pave the way for legislation later this year that would provide tax incentives for “green” manufacturing, make community colleges free for two years, and provide an avenue for citizenship to millions of immigrant workers.

The budget plan also provides for new federal aid for social programs, such as home health care for the elderly.

The first 2,702-page bill is high on Biden’s domestic agenda and includes $ 550 billion in new spending for roads, bridges and Internet access.

“This is a very good day. We have reached an agreement after all the long and hard negotiations,” a smiling Schumer said of Tuesday’s vote.

The trillion-dollar infrastructure bill is popular with many legislators from both parties for the federal funding it would bring to their states. Polls also show that Americans generally support him.

Democrats intend to debate and pass the non-binding $ 3.5 trillion resolution in the coming days, which would serve as the framework for more detailed and binding legislation later this year.

Republicans have vigorously protested the size and cost of the follow-up package, which Democrats intend to pass without their votes through a process called “budget reconciliation”.