President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Sunday night together with first lady Jill Biden after a weekend away at Camp David at the start of what is expected to be a high stakes week in his presidency.
There is confidence among Democrats that his massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill will pass this week.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned Sunday that vote may not be until Thursday rather than Monday, with critical work still left remaining to meet the party's deadlines.
Democrats have been scrambling to hammer out a landmark plan to upgrade the nation's roads and bridges, but are also under immense pressure to finalize a $3.5 trillion public investment package and fund the government to avert a looming shutdown - all by Thursday September 30.
The bigger package is also intended to fuel a huge spending increase in social care, as well as on tackling the threat of climate change.
Asked at the White House on Sunday whether the Democrats had the votes they needed, Biden said: 'I'm optimistic about this week. It's going to take the better part of the week, I think,' he told reporters.
It's a high stakes week in Washington with President Joe Biden's broad domestic agenda at risk of collapse. Biden is pictured arriving back at the White House from Camp David Sunday evening
The week is among the most critical of President Joe Biden's tenure, with opposition Republicans digging in against his Build Back Better program that would invest in climate change policy, lower childcare and education costs for working families and create millions of jobs.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has voiced confidence that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that has already cleared the Senate with bipartisan support will pass the House of Representatives 'this week' but has hinted at potential quicksand ahead.
Debate on the legislation, which passed the Senate with Democratic and Republican support on August 10 will help fund road, bridge, airport, school and other construction projects.
President Joe Biden answers a few questions from reporters as he returns to the White House from Camp David, in Washington, DC
'I'm never bringing a bill to the floor that doesn't have the votes,' the top Democrat in Congress told ABC News on Sunday.
'You cannot choose the date. You have to go when you have the votes, in a reasonable time. And we will.
'We are now working together with the Senate and the White House on changes to this historic legislation,' she added.
'We´ll see how the number comes down and what we need. Again, the Senate and the House, those who are not in full agreement with the president, right, let´s see what our values - let´s not talk about numbers and dollars. Let´s talk about values.'
Biden told reporters on Sunday he was 'optimistic' Pelosi would get the agenda through the house this week, adding 'it's going to take the better part of the week.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has voiced confidence that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that has already cleared the Senate with bipartisan support will pass the House of Representatives 'this week' but has hinted at potential quicksand ahead
Pelosi told her
