House of Representatives approves budget plan that paves a path to citizenship for millions

By Sahil Kapur and Haley Talbot

 NBC News

The House of Representatives approved a budget framework on Tuesday that clears the way for Democrats to pass a $ 3.6 million package to expand social spending and provide a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.

The vote comes after hours of intense negotiations between the moderate and more progressive wings of the Democratic Party. 

In a meeting Tuesday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she

was optimistic about reaching an agreement

ahead of the vote this afternoon, which included concessions to appease the more reticent. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill, Aug. 24, 2021. Reuters

"I am sorry that we could not reach a good port last night, and that everyone had to wait. But that is only part of the legislative progress," he said, "I think we are close." 

The president and members of his Cabinet have telephoned various members of the House, including centrists, to defend Pelosi's plan and emphasize that both the infrastructure bills and the budget bill are critical to Biden, said a White House official.

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The House Rules Committee met Tuesday morning before voting on the budget resolution that allows lawmakers to begin work on

a $ 3.5 trillion package

.

It will also lead to the first votes on the infrastructure bill already passed by the Senate and the John Lewis Voting Rights Promotion Act.

The House was initially expected to vote on a rule to start the procedure on Monday night, but Pelosi encountered

defections from a group of nine moderate Democrats

who threatened to reject it.

They insist that the $ 550 billion infrastructure bill has to be voted on immediately and signed into law before they start crafting the largest budget bill.

[The Government presents its new asylum application system to approve (and reject) immigrants at the border faster]

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Democratic leaders plan to give their word that the lower house will vote on the infrastructure bill

before Sept. 27

, said a Pelosi aide, adding that this complies with the moderates' request to set a certain date.

Pelosi has said for months that

the two bills should move side by side

.

Dozens of progressives argue however that they will not support the infrastructure bill without the largest spending bill, while moderates are more interested in passing the infrastructure package.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confronts a group of reporters as she leaves a meeting with Democratic representatives over the budget resolution.

The heart

of the dispute

is an attempt to placate the proposed billionaire's package.

Progressives want to approve

a broad expansion of the social and safety net

, which would be covered by increased taxes for corporations and the wealthy.

Centrist Democrats are wary of the proposed amount, $ 3.5 trillion, and are more skeptical of some

taxes

.