Senate approves half-trillion dollars in new spending to improve infrastructure Senate advances infrastructure bill The US Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to move forward on a half-trillion dollars in new spending to improve roads, airports and transit. WASHINGTON - The US Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to move forward on a half-trillion dollars in new spending to improve roads, airports and transit. It includes billions of dollars for the Chicago area, including for replacement of lead water pipes that pose a health hazard to children, in particular. The proposal also redirects hundreds of billions of dollars previously approved for pandemic relief and other purposes, bringing the total spending on repairs and new infrastructure to about $1 trillion. It also potentially delivers on a key campaign promise by the president.