President, Senate Reach Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

Yesterday, President Biden and Senators reached a deal on a $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure package. Last night, the Senate advanced the measure in a 67-32 vote to end debate on a motion to proceed to the bill, though the deal’s text hasn’t yet been publicly circulated. Lawmakers will still have to pass the bill in the Senate. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has said she will not take up the bipartisan infrastructure bill until the Senate also sends over a follow-up reconciliation bill, currently estimated to total $3.5 trillion. There is still much work to be done, but the bipartisan agreement would provide, according to a White House summary, $55 billion for clean drinking water, including lead service line replacement and addressing PFAS in water sources. Funding for wastewater infrastructure is also expected to be in this bill though it is not clear if funding for wastewater is included in the top line number for drinking water.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says his goal is still to pass both a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution before they begin August Recess. We are expecting Senate Democrats to pass their next bill without Republican support, the estimated $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, as early as next week.