WASHINGTON – Democrats are rushing to finalize a bipartisan infrastructure deal and outline a sweeping childcare and education plan, aimed at maintaining a delicate deal with Republicans while simultaneously pursuing their own priorities.

After a two-week hiatus, senators return to Washington this week to determine the fate of much of President Biden’s roughly $ 4 trillion program. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., NY) on Friday told Senate Democrats in a letter that he expects the chamber to pass both an infrastructure deal of around 1 Trillion dollars and a resolution defining the parameters of a bill encompassing other Democratic priorities in the coming weeks.

While staff filled out the details of the infrastructure deal, Democrats remain divided over the size and scope of the other, larger bill. Liberals such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vermont) have called for spending up to $ 6 trillion in the package, while moderates favored a smaller number.

Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee are looking to quickly reach agreement on the full cost of the package and present a Senate budget resolution in the coming weeks, the first step before other committees work out the details of the package. the legislation.

Adding to the sensitivity of the negotiations, many lawmakers linked the fate of the two efforts. Some Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) Have said they will not support the infrastructure deal unless other legislation goes ahead, while some Republicans have said that promoting other Democratic priorities could cause them to oppose the infrastructure deal.