{"id":119150,"date":"2021-08-02T11:30:10","date_gmt":"2021-08-02T11:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=119150"},"modified":"2021-08-02T11:30:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T11:30:10","slug":"u-s-senate-works-to-push-1-trillion-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-to-passage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/markets\/u-s-senate-works-to-push-1-trillion-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-to-passage\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Senate works to push $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill to passage"},"content":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate will try to complete work this week on a $1 trillion infrastructure investment bill that would bring long-awaited improvements to roads, bridges and mass-transit systems and deliver a rare bipartisan victory to President Joe Biden.<\/p> Following long work sessions on Saturday and Sunday, Senate negotiators announced that they had finished drafting a 2,702-page bill, which promptly was introduced, clearing the way for senators to debate amendments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been decades – decades – since Congress passed such a significant, stand-alone investment,\u201d a buoyant Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, the bipartisan group of senators have produced a bill that will dedicate substantial resources to repair, maintain, and upgrade our nation\u2019s physical infrastructure,\u201d the Democratic leader added.<\/p>\n The legislation, if enacted, would be the largest U.S. infrastructure investment in decades. Its passage would mark a major win for Biden and the deeply divided Congress, on the heels of a Democrats-only $1.9 trillion economic stimulus and coronavirus aid bill enacted this year.<\/p>\n It also would clear the way for Democrats, acting without Republican support, to begin work on a budget framework that would sketch out plans for a $3.5 trillion \u201chuman infrastructure\u201d bill.<\/p>\n It would shovel federal dollars toward fighting climate change, help millions of immigrants gain legal protections and fund expanded healthcare, including for senior citizens in need of assistance at home.<\/p>\n But first, the Senate needed to put the finishing touches on the approximately $1 trillion in federal funds for construction projects that would upgrade the nation\u2019s aging roads, bridges and rail lines and expand high-speed internet access to rural areas where economies have been hobbled by old technology.<\/p>\n The legislation also would help build a national network of electric vehicle charging stations and replace lead water pipes, although at levels lower than Biden had originally sought.<\/p>\n In a rare sign of bipartisanship last week, the initiative won early support from enough Republicans to begin debate on the bill. Barring surprise developments, the bill could be ready for a final vote as early as this week, according to some senators.<\/p>\n