Washington: After months of delay due to Democratic infighting over a social spending package, the US House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan USD1 trillion infrastructure bill, sending it to President Joe Biden for signature. The bill passed the lower chamber by a vote of 228 to 206 late Friday night, with 13 Republicans joining Democrats in support. According to reports, six progressive Democrats voted against it.
The bill is expected to be signed by Biden, and it is a top priority for his administration. Biden unveiled a USD2 trillion infrastructure plan in late March, which was heavily criticised by Republican lawmakers, who claimed it was not focused on infrastructure and was too expensive.
A bipartisan group of Senators reached an agreement on a roughly USD1 trillion infrastructure bill that includes USD550 billion in new spending on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, passenger rails, drinking water, and wastewater systems after months of negotiations. The remainder of the package is made up of previously approved expenditures.
The bill was approved by the Senate in August. Progressive House Democrats have been holding up the Senate-passed bill for months, demanding a vote on the larger social spending plan, whose size and scope have caused divisions within the Democratic Party.
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