House progressives won't back infrastructure deal without $3.5T reconciliation package

The House Progressive Caucus said Tuesday its members would not vote to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package unless the Senate first approves a $3.5 trillion plan to fund their preferred policies, signaling a potential battle between two wings of the Democratic Party on President Biden’s signature legislation.

The declaration came shortly after the Senate vote 69-30 in favor of the deal, which includes $550 billion in new spending on physical infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and water pipes. "We therefore encourage you to continue coordinating closely between the two chambers, collaborating with the White House, and engaging with our caucus so that the reconciliation framework reflects our shared and longstanding investment priorities, and that the Senate first adopts this reconciliation package before House consideration of any bipartisan infrastructure legislation," the Progressive Caucus’ leadership said in the letter.