{"id":629469,"date":"2021-08-10T12:05:35","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T16:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=629469"},"modified":"2021-08-10T12:05:45","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T16:05:45","slug":"senate-passes-the-largest-infrastructure-package-in-decades-over-a-dozen-republicans-vote-in-favor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-passes-the-largest-infrastructure-package-in-decades-over-a-dozen-republicans-vote-in-favor\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Passes The Largest Infrastructure Package In Decades, Over A Dozen Republicans Vote In Favor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-passes-the-largest-infrastructure-package-in-decades-over-a-dozen-republicans-vote-in-favor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=629469&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><ul>\n<li><strong>The Senate on Tuesday passed its bipartisan infrastructure bill, moving what would be the largest public works package in decades one step closer to becoming law months after negotiations first began.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The bill is the largest investment in America\u2019s infrastructure since the 1950s. It costs $1.2 trillion, putting billions of federal dollars toward roads, bridges, broadband and more.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201c[This is] landmark and needed legislation in fixing our roads, railroads, our ports, electrical grid and more,\u201d Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman said on the floor. \u201cIt will improve the lives of all Americans. It\u2019s long-term spending to repair and replace and build assets that will last for decades.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Senators are now set to take up their budget resolution, keeping them in Washington. The $3.5 trillion spending package was unveiled by Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday, and addresses Democratic priorities omitted from the infrastructure bill like climate change and immigration.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Senate on Tuesday passed its bipartisan infrastructure bill, moving what would be the largest public works package in decades one step closer to becoming law months after negotiations first began.<\/p>\n<p>The bill, which advocates praised as the largest investment in America\u2019s infrastructure since the construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s, passed 69-30. Nineteen Republicans joined every Democrat in voting for the package.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation, titled the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), was on a <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/08\/infrastructure-bill-advances-senate-overcoming-filibuster-chuck-schumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">glide path to passage<\/a> after beating a Senate filibuster Sunday night, when 68 senators voted to end debate.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the bill\u2019s lead Democratic negotiator, said Monday on the Senate floor that the bill would \u201cmake America stronger and safer, create good-paying jobs and expand economic opportunities across the country,\u201d and praised her colleagues for their commitment to reaching an agreement. \u201cThis is what it looks like when elected leaders take a step toward healing our country\u2019s divisions rather than feeding [them],\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>The IIJA costs $1.2 trillion over eight years, $550 billion of which is new government spending, and puts hundreds of billions of federal dollars toward roads, bridges, ports, broadband and more. It was led by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman on the Republican side, and was the product of negotiations among 22 senators and President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[This is] landmark and needed legislation in fixing our roads, railroads, our ports, electrical grid and more,\u201d Portman said on the floor. \u201cI\u2019m proud of what was done on that \u2026 It will improve the lives of all Americans. It\u2019s long-term spending to repair and replace and build assets that will last for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Talks first began with West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, but <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/06\/08\/infrastructure-talks-joe-biden-shelley-moore-capito-over-focus-bipartisan-group\/\">collapsed<\/a> after she and the White House could not agree on the overall size and scope of the bill. Negotiations then shifted to the bipartisan group, but remained <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/26\/infrastructure-joe-biden-pat-toomey-chuck-schumer-rob-portman\/\">precarious<\/a> for weeks as they struggled to compromise on how to finance the new spending and what it should cover.<\/p>\n<p>It was late July when Portman announced that the group had reached <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/28\/senators-resolved-major-issues-infrastructure-rob-portman-chuck-schumer\/\">agreement on the \u201cmajor issues,\u201d<\/a> and that Republicans were ready to move forward. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/08\/infrastructure-bill-advances-senate-overcoming-filibuster-chuck-schumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Infrastructure Bill Set To Sail Through The Senate After Beating Final Filibuster)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7256573\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"33\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7256573\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7256573 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sen. Kyrsten Sinema speaks after the bipartisan bill cleared its first procedural vote in July. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-620x414-1.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1331188590-2048x1366-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-7256573\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Kyrsten Sinema speaks after the bipartisan bill cleared its first procedural vote in July. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The bill <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/28\/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-advances-senate-chuck-schumer-rob-portman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cleared its first procedural vote<\/a> hours later with the support of 17 Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a clear indication that it had the necessary support to beat a filibuster and pass. Two days later, <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/30\/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-clears-senate-vote-chuck-schumer-mitch-mcconnell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">16 Republicans joined Democrats<\/a> in officially voting to begin debate.<\/p>\n<p>Senators originally sought to pass the bill last week or over the weekend, but were blocked from doing so by Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty, who <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/06\/senate-fails-wrap-infrastructure-bill-talks-collapse-chuck-schumer-bill-hagerty-kyrsten-sinema\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">refused<\/a> to forgo hours of scheduled debate. He cited the Congressional Budget Office\u2019s estimate that the bill would <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/05\/congressional-budget-office-infrastructure-bill-256-billion-deficit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">add $256 billion to the deficit<\/a> over the next 10 years, arguing that the legislation was not fully paid for, unlike what its negotiators previously said.<\/p>\n<p>Hagerty\u2019s delays earned praise from former President Donald Trump on Sunday, who had repeatedly tried to intimidate Republicans into opposing the package. In multiple email statements he disparaged McConnell for supporting the bill, calling it a \u201cdisgrace\u201d and the \u201cbeginning of the Green New Deal,\u201d and floated backing primary challengers against other Republicans who backed it. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/29\/donald-trump-erupts-republicans-move-forward-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Trump Erupts After Republicans Move Forward With Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the IIJA\u2019s passing, senators are now set to take up their budget resolution, keeping them in Washington for another marathon session with dozens of politically tricky amendment votes and eating into their prized August recess. The mammoth resolution, <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/09\/democrats-3-trillion-budget-resolution-partisan-fight-chuck-schume\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unveiled<\/a> by Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday, addresses priorities omitted from the infrastructure bill including health care, climate change and immigration and as outlined costs $3.5 trillion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis legislation in so many ways begins to address the working families of our country,\u201d Sanders said on the Senate floor Monday. \u201cBut in one important way, maybe the most important, is as we address the needs of our people in health care and education and climate, we are going to create many millions of good-paying jobs that the American people desperately need.\u201d&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/08\/09\/democrats-3-trillion-budget-resolution-partisan-fight-chuck-schume\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Democrats Unveil $3.5T Budget, Bracing For Ugly Partisan Brawl)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7256554\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"34\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7256554\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7256554 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1333245764-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sen. Bernie Sanders authored Democrats&#039; $3.5 trillion budget, which he has acknowledged will likely pass on party lines. (Win McNamee\/Getty Images)\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-7256554\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Bernie Sanders authored Democrats\u2019 $3.5 trillion budget, which he has acknowledged will likely pass on party lines. (Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>While Republicans unanimously oppose the reconciliation package, Senate rules allow for Democrats to pass it with just a simple majority vote, meaning that it could pass strictly along party lines if their caucus all votes for it.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell on Tuesday accused Democrats of playing \u201cRussian roulette with our country\u201d and said the budget would be the \u201clargest peacetime tax hike on record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis new reckless taxing and spending spree will fall like a hammer blow on workers and middle-class families,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cIf all 50 Democrats want to help [Budget Committee] Chairman Sanders hurt middle-class families \u2026 well, that\u2019s their prerogative, but we\u2019re going to argue it out right here on the floor at some length.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Several progressives, however, have sought to tie the bipartisan bill with the reconciliation package, with some in the House <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/06\/24\/ilhan-omar-nancy-pelosi-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-american-jobs-plan-chuck-schumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hinging their support<\/a> for the former on Senate Democrats passing the latter. In an attempt to hold her narrow majority together, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryanobles\/status\/1423012965998108677\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> that she will not bring the bipartisan bill up for a vote until the Senate passes the reconciliation package as well, despite moderates urging her to bring up the infrastructure package as soon as possible. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/22\/americans-joe-biden-infrastructure-roads-bridges-climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Americans Overwhelmingly Want Roads, Bridges And Other Physical Infrastructure. They\u2019re Mixed On Other Provisions)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Others have also been critical of the infrastructure bill, which was adopted as a substitute for the <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/07\/01\/house-passes-surface-transportation-bill-bipartisan-infrastructure-negotiations\/\">$715 billion surface transportation bill<\/a> that the House passed in July, arguing that it inadequately invests in climate, housing, child care and more.<\/p>\n<p>Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio, the chair of the House Transportation Committee, reportedly called the bill \u201ccrap\u201d after a deal was reached, lamenting the fact that it omitted large swaths of the transportation bill he authored and disregarding the White House\u2019s endorsement of it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI could give a damn about the White House. We\u2019re an independent branch of government,\u201d he told reporters in July. \u201cThey cut this deal. I didn\u2019t sign off on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact <a href=\"mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Senate on Tuesday passed its bipartisan infrastructure bill, moving what would be the largest public works package in decades one step closer to becoming law months after negotiations first &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-629469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}