Democrats are hoping to pass President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, paid family and medical leave, and potentially expand health care, including Medicare. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders expressed optimism about the possibility of using a new ruling from the parliamentarian to advance their priorities in Congress. The ruling allows for another round of reconciliation in the budget resolution, which could help Democrats bypass Republican opposition and pass significant budget legislation. The process is full of difficulties, such as strict rules limiting what can be included, and Democrats would still need to gather 50 votes for any proposal, which may be challenging for some of their more ambitious ideas. However, the newfound flexibility could make it easier for them to pursue their most ambitious goals, including breaking down Biden's infrastructure plan into smaller, more manageable pieces. Activists are also pushing Biden to consider using reconciliation to provide a path to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants, such as farmworkers, essential workers, and Dreamers. It is uncertain how or when Democrats will utilize this opportunity. There is increasing pressure for the ruling party to test the limits of what they can achieve with control of both congressional chambers and the White House. Senator Chuck Schumer sees the recent decision as a positive development, but he is not revealing how it will affect his legislative plans, including passing a large public-works proposal from President Biden. The parliamentarian's initial guidance suggests there may be more opportunities to use the reconciliation process before the end of the fiscal year on Sept 30, and beyond. Lawmakers may need to seek further clarification on how to move forward. However, for the time being, her choice has encouraged some activists who have been urging Biden and Democrats to take a more assertive stance in using their power to push forward significant policy changes. These activists are expected to increase their efforts to put pressure on the White House and prominent Democrats in the upcoming weeks to utilize this new tool. Democrats believe that the recent ruling could offer more flexibility in passing Biden's proposed $4 trillion economic investments, which include initiatives such as rebuilding electric grids, combatting climate change, reducing poverty, and empowering women in the workforce. Since Biden's election, his team has been focused on strategizing various plans to push his agenda through Congress, involving significant government spending partially funded by tax hikes on corporations and wealthy individuals. Reconciliation has become a key component in many of these plans following the Democrats' victory in the Georgia runoff elections in January, which gave them control of the Senate. The Biden administration considered using reconciliation as a way to overcome Republican opposition to pandemic aid and to advance their economic agenda, including funding for various projects. However, they faced challenges as the parliamentarian rejected a provision to raise the federal minimum wage due to budget rules. Activists argue that legalizing some unauthorized immigrants could impact the budget positively, but it remains uncertain if the parliamentarian would allow it in a reconciliation measure. Schumer and Sanders have not settled on a strategy for using reconciliation and Sanders acknowledged the difficulty of prioritizing legislative goals. Despite this, White House officials maintain that Biden is committed to pursuing a bipartisan agreement with Republicans on his infrastructure plan. Business organizations are interested in negotiating a solution to the issue, despite objections from them and Republicans to Biden's tax hike proposal. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, stated that Biden still believes there is a possibility for bipartisan agreement on the issue. However, she also mentioned the option of using the more partisan reconciliation process to pass the bill if necessary, leaving the decision on the process to Congress leaders. Currently, less than a week after the announcement of the American Jobs Plan, the focus is on engaging with both Democrats and Republicans, as well as staff and committee members, and inviting members to the White House. Lobbyists and congressional staff anticipate that President Biden will give Senate moderates a brief opportunity to establish a bipartisan consensus on the plan before moving on if no agreement is reached. Press Secretary Psaki mentioned that Biden hopes to see progress on Capitol Hill by May and a finalized package by the summer. Some administration officials acknowledge the challenge of passing Biden's agenda without using reconciliation, as attracting at least 10 Republican votes would be necessary to overcome a Senate filibuster. A group of that size has already begun negotiations with Biden on his proposed $1.9 trillion economic aid package. The Republicans responded with a $600 billion proposal, but Democrats rejected it as inadequate. Biden proceeded with his own plan, overcoming Republican resistance to pass a $1.9 trillion bill through reconciliation.