US Senate votes to advance Biden's1 trillion dollars infrastructure bill

The United States Senate has moved closer to passing a $1 trillion Infrastrucrure bill, after lawmakers from both parties came together and voted to clear a key procedural hurdle. The $1.2 trillion bill, designed to fund much-needed upgrades to US roads, highways, bridges, and high-speed internet, drew the support of 18 Republican senators and 49 Democrats, a rare instance of bipartisanship in deeply divided Washington. With only 51 votes required for final Senate passage, the vote Saturday greatly improves the bill's chances, although fierce wrangling over amendments is continuing.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the first of President Joe Biden’s two infrastructure packages. The administration and congressional leaders will soon turn to a second, larger package that is expected to draw only Democratic support. The bill must must pass another procedural step before going to a final vote, the timing of which remained uncertain on Saturday evening, when voting ended to be picked up again Sunday. The total $1.2 trillion price tag -- equal to the 2020 GDP of Spain -- includes some funds previously approved but not yet spent.

If the Senate approves the plan, it will move to the House of Representatives, where passage is not guaranteed. Democrats hold a narrow majority there, and the party's centrist and liberal wings have butted heads over the content of the bill. Former president Donald Trump, issued a statement Saturday calling the bill "a disgrace". He added that it would be "very hard" for him to "endorse anyone foolish enough to vote in favor of this deal." His position could make a final vote more problematic for Republicans looking ahead to the 2022 midterm elections.