Republicans and Democrats reach an agreement to approve Biden's infrastructure plan in the Senate

By Sahil Kapur, Frank Thorp V and Julie Tsirkin - NBC News

Senators negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure bill promoted by President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday an agreement that may

allow a vote tonight

.

It is also dependent on the passage of this bill that the accompanying package of social measures, which could include a path to citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants, continues. 

"We have reached a pact on the main issues. We still have to finalize the legislative language," Sen. Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, told reporters after all five negotiators from his party met with the minority leader. of the Senate, Mitch McConnell.

[How the infrastructure plan could be key for Democrats to maintain a majority in the House of Representatives]

Portman explained that Democrats accepted his latest offer to resolve the issue of funding for freeways and transit, which was one of the last big hurdles.

"

This bill is done,

" Portman said.

The Senate could begin the process to approve the package tonight, he said, because "they expect to have the language completed by then."

The bill needs 60 votes to pass, which means that at least 10 Republicans must back the procedural motion.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who was the Democrats' top negotiator, said lawmakers are working on the final version of the text, but the rest of the Senate is scheduled to start reading it soon.

Joe Biden will introduce bills to create jobs and improve America's infrastructure.

March 31, 202101: 53

"We look forward to moving forward this [Wednesday] afternoon, we are very excited to have an agreement," said Sinema, senator for Arizona.

Lawmakers have "most of the text done, so we'll post it today and then

update it as we get those final pieces finished

."

"There is $ 65 billion in broadband affordability and deployment programs. Our goal is to ensure that there is much greater access to high-speed Internet services," said Susan Collins, R-Maine,

Before the Republican senators spoke, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer already advised senators that he could hold a procedural vote "as soon as tonight."

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, appeared to scoff at former President Donald Trump's recent statement calling on Republicans to reject the deal.

[How do you plan to finance Biden's infrastructure plan?

With $ 2.5 billion in taxes on large companies in 15 years]

"

I am surprised that there are some who oppose this just

because they think that if something is ever achieved, it is somehow a sign of weakness," he told reporters.

"I have no idea what they mean. My state has been hit harder than any other by the floods and natural disasters of the past two years," he recalled.

The package, he revealed, includes $ 110 billion for roads.

The other two Republicans in the negotiating group are Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Mitt Romney of Utah.

"From a political perspective, this is something the country needs," Murkowski told reporters.

"This is also important to show that Republicans and Democrats can come together on really tough things to negotiate in good faith and to get a deal that isn't just going to work for Republicans or Democrats, it's going to work for the country." .