Senate ready to move forward on Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill: Republicans

The Republicans in the Senate reached a deal with the Democrats on Joe Biden‘s ambitious $1 trillion infrastructure bill, reports Associated Press. The Senate Republicans are willing to now move forward on the bill, which was a key part of Biden’s agenda. The Senate could take up the bill on Wednesday evening reports AP.

The announcement was made by Ohio Senator Rob Portman, the lead Grand Old Party (GOP) negotiator, at the Capitol on Wednesday. With four other Republican senators by his side, Portman said that the party had been in talks with the Democrats and the Biden administration on the infra package.

“We now have an agreement on the major issues. We are prepared to move forward,” Portman said.

Earlier on Thursday, President Biden had said that he was feeling confident about the two parties coming to an agreement on the bill.

The Republicans’ assurance only means that the bill would be taken up in the Senate. Whether or not the Republicans would support passage of the bill is still unclear.

Republicans had earlier argued that more time was needed to thrash out the details with Democrats and the White House, primarily how to raise sufficient revenue to fund the once-in-a-generation spending.

President Joe Biden has made improving America’s roads, bridges, ports, water pipes and broadband internet a priority in his sprawling domestic agenda.

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Last month he stood with senators from both parties at the White House proclaiming a framework agreement had been secured, but after weeks of haggling a deal remained out of reach.

Multiple issues are at play but the biggest sticking point remains how to pay for the package, which includes $579 billion in new federal spending.

Republicans recently jettisoned a plan that would have raised billions by giving the Internal Revenue Service more power to combat tax dodging.