Sens. Roger Marshall (left) and Bernie Sanders. Photos: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images
The Senate HELP Committee on Thursday advanced a bill to boost funding for community health centers and expand primary care in a 14-7 bipartisan vote.
Driving the news: Three Republicans joined with all Democrats to support the measure: Sens. Roger Marshall, Lisa Murkowski and Mike Braun.
Between the lines: The measure is the result of an unusual collaborationbetween Sanders and Marshall.
Because Ranking Member Bill Cassidy opposed to the package, the number of GOP yes votes was closely watched.
What we're watching: The three GOP yes votes gives the bill bipartisan support, but also highlights that a majority of Republicans and the ranking member remain opposed, complicating the path to the floor.
Sanders said he had agreed to remove some mandatory funding in the bill to win Braun's support.
Some other amendments were adopted on Thursday to make changes, including a Braun amendment to require HHS to publish a list of hospitals that don't comply with transparency rules.
We'll have a fuller breakdown of the day's events in our newsletter this afternoon.
