ToplineOn Tuesday, a bipartisan group of senators is expected to succeed in their long-running quest to pass the Senate's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. However, the legislation faces obstacles in the House where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.Calif.) has pledged not to consider the legislation without a larger spending package that includes Democrats' policy priorities.UNITED STATES – AUGUST 9: Senator Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), right and Sen. Bernie...[+] Sanders, I.Vt. are seen at the U.S. Capitol Monday, August 9, 2021. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesThe Key FactsThe Senate voted 68 to 29 in favor of the bill's end. This vote exceeded the 60 required votes for approval. It sets the stage for the bill's final passage in the chamber on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. ET. This is a significant win for the bipartisan group consisting of 10 moderates. They spent months trying to reach a compromise after the White House stopped negotiations with Republicans in June. The bill authorizes $550billion in new spending. This includes $110 billion for roads and bridges. It is the largest federal investment ever in public transit and funds for airports. The bill will likely overcome its biggest hurdle on Tuesday but it faces additional obstacles in the House. Pelosi repeatedly promised not to take it up until Senate Democrats send her a $3.5 billion reconciliation bill. The bill will propose to lower the Medicare age to 60, expand it to include hearing, vision, and dental care, and provide a pathway to citizenship for millions. It also provides tuition-free community college for two year.Important BackgroundIn March, President Joe Biden released his infrastructure plan. However, both Republicans and Democrats opposed the plan. Senate Democrats have chosen to pursue two separate spending packages simultaneously: a smaller infrastructure bill that was negotiated on a bipartisan base and a large budget resolution that includes more of President Obama's policy priorities. The bipartisan infrastructure bill's price tag was reduced to please GOP lawmakers. However, the Senate's special reconciliation process would allow Democrats to bypass Republican support and pass the spending legislation with 51 votes instead the usual 60. This requires a tiebreaking vote by Vice President Kamala Hariri and support from all 50 Senate Democrats (moderates included) Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Kyrsten Sinema, (D-Ariz.).What to WatchSen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was the Senate Majority Leader. He stated Monday that the chamber would immediately start work on the budget resolution after the infrastructure package had passed. Moderate senators. Moderate Senators Schumer requested that Senators submit their amended reconciliation legislation no later than September 15.Big Number256 billion. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill's infrastructure spending would increase the nation's deficit by nearly half over the next ten years. This means that almost half of the proposed new spending could be added to the $28.6 trillion national debt.Continue readingSenate Democrats unveil $3.5 Trillion BudgetProposing Free Community College, Pathway to Citizenship and More (Forbes).New Bridges, Roads and Internet: This is What It Looked Like in the $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Supported By The Senate (Forbes).Senate Democrats Unveil $3.5 Trillion Spending Deal (Forbes)
