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Jul 28, 2021 - Politics & Policy

$1.2 trillion "hard" infrastructure bill clears major procedural vote in Senate

Jacob Knutson
The U.S. Capitol building on July 26.

Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Senate voted 67-32 on Wednesday to advance the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Why it matters: After weeks of negotiating, portions of the bill remain unwritten, but the Senate can now start debating the legislation to resolve outstanding issues.

  • It was the second time the chamber voted to invoke cloture on the legislation after the first vote failed last week.
  • 17 Republicans voted with Democrats on Wednesday to advance the bill.
  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said that he is considering keeping the Senate in session over the weekend to complete the bipartisan bill.

Details: The deal is expected to cost $1.2 trillion over eight years, and offers more than $550 billion in new spending, including...

  • $110 billion in new funds for roads, bridges, and major projects, $40 billion of which is new funding for bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation and $17.5 billion for major projects;
  • $73 billion for the country's electric grid and power structures;
  • $65 billion will be allocated for broadband;
  • $55 billion for clean drinking water;
  • $50 billion for flooding and coastal resiliency.

The big picture: The vote came after Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the lead GOP negotiator, announced that the bipartisan group had an "agreement on the major issues."

The 17 Republicans to vote favor of advancing the legislation include:

  • Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
  • Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
  • Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
  • Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
  • Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
  • Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.)
  • Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
  • Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
  • Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
  • Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
  • Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
  • Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho)
  • Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)
  • Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
  • Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)

Go deeper: Bipartisan group reaches agreement on $1.2 trillion "hard" infrastructure bill

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