US Infrastructure: Pelosi Schedules Thursday Vote For Bipartisan Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has scheduled a Thursday vote for the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that aims to improve the country’s roads, bridges, highways, waterways, and broadband.

The upcoming vote will be the first step in a busy week for Congressional Democrats as they look to pass the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill designed to expand the social safety net by providing paid leave, universal pre-K, free community college, and expanding Medicare.

This will prove to be the most pivotal week of President Joe Biden’s administration as his party looks to pass the two biggest items on his agenda as well as suspend or raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 1 to avoid a government shutdown and defaulting on the national debt.

“This week is a week of opportunity, as we work to keep the government open, conclude negotiations on the Build Back Better Act and advance the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework,” Pelosi wrote.

Democrats have clashed over the price tag of the ambitious package and Pelosi has signaled the final bill might be lower than $3.5 trillion.

“Obviously, with negotiation, there have to be some changes in that the sooner the better, so that we can build our consensus to go forward," she said.

Progressives like Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., have threatened to kill the bipartisan infrastructure bill if the reconciliation bill fails to pass the Senate. Jayapal’s caucus has prioritized many of the benefits inside the reconciliation package and does not want to see moderates in the party water it down.

The Senate will hold a procedural vote on Monday on whether or not to fund the government through Dec 3., and suspend the nation’s debt ceiling until 2022, a policy that passed the House last week. Republicans have voiced their opposition as they want Democrats to suspend the debt limit without using their votes.

Pelosi slammed Republicans, calling their actions irresponsible. She said that failing to extend the debt ceiling could have a poor impact on the economy.