United States: Huge infrastructure plan reaches key milestone
Thanks to the broad support of Democrats and Republicans, the infrastructure plan presented as "historic" by Joe Biden overcame a key stage in the US Senate on Saturday August 7.
MANDEL NGAN AFP / File
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Thanks to the broad support of Democrats and Republicans, the $ 1,200 billion infrastructure investment plan presented as "
historic
" by Joe Biden overcame a key milestone in the US Senate on Saturday August 7, where its adoption now seems guaranteed before being sent to the House of Representatives.
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The fruit of months of negotiations, this grand plan provides for $ 550 billion in new federal spending on roads, bridges, transport, as well as high-speed internet and to fight climate change.
It totals $ 1.2 trillion - the equivalent of Spain's 2020 gross domestic product - if one takes into account the reorientation of other existing public funding.
With the agreement of 18 Republicans, including their powerful leader Mitch McConnell, and 49 Democrats, the Senate decided to end debate on the bill.
This procedural vote required 60 votes.
It marks a decisive step since it underlines the very strong chances that the text has to be adopted then, by a simple majority (51 votes), in the Senate.
But the plan must first face another procedural step there and there could be further votes on amendments.
Adoption is not yet guaranteed
The date of the final vote therefore remains unknown.
It could occur at the beginning of the week or as of this Sunday, the very flexible rules of the Senate allowing to accelerate the procedures, on condition of obtaining unanimity.
►
See also:
United States: the infrastructure plan on track in the Senate
However, this seemed difficult to achieve on Saturday evening, after further hours of fruitless negotiations in an attempt to shorten the deadlines, blocked by the opposition of at least one Republican.
The deal "
represents a historic investment
" tweeted Joe Biden on Saturday.
“
We cannot afford not to implement it
.
"
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure.
It will create good-paying, union jobs repairing our roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes, and building energy transmission lines.
We can't afford not to do it.
- President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2021
If the Senate approves the plan, it will then have to go to the House of Representatives for a vote.
No date has yet been set and its adoption is not yet guaranteed.
Democrats control the majority but by a very narrow margin, and tensions exist between the centrists and the left wing.
The adoption of this project would offer a resounding victory to the Democratic President, who is betting on the economic recovery and the fight against the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic to present a good record to the Americans.
►
See also: United States: employers and unions urge Congress to adopt the infrastructure plan
Former senator for 36 years, broken in the marathon negotiations of Congress, Joe Biden follows these negotiations very closely and should not hesitate to pick up his phone this weekend to weigh in the discussions, according to the White House.
Former Republican President Donald Trump judged him on Saturday that this agreement was "
a shame
".
But Republicans supporting the project also know that these investments are very popular with voters and influential Mitch McConnell on Saturday defended an imperfect text but the result of a "
compromise
".
(With
AFP
)
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United States
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