The Senate voted 73-25 Monday evening to invoke cloture on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, clearing the 60-vote threshold and setting up a final vote next week on legislation that would make it easier and faster to build pipelines, power lines, power plants, and highways.

Twenty-four Democrats and one Republican, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, voted against advancing the bill. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with Democrats, was among the no votes, as was Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — though King ultimately voted to advance the package.

What does the bill actually do?

If passed, the legislation would arguably be the most substantial bill signed by President Donald Trump in his second term. It would overhaul the process for federal agency approvals of new energy and infrastructure projects.

The strategic logic behind the vote count is straightforward: while 60 votes are necessary to pass the legislation in the Senate, proponents estimated that roughly 70 to 75 were needed to instill confidence in House leadership that the bill could pass in the lower chamber. The Senate surpassed that goal, with 22 Democrats voting in favor.

The cushion matters. Not every senator who voted to advance the bill on Monday has committed to backing it in the final vote, meaning the 73-25 margin may overstate the package's ultimate support.

Why did one Republican break ranks?

Republican senators were not expected to vote against advancing the bill, particularly after Trump endorsed the package Sunday evening. Rounds did anyway, becoming the sole Republican no vote. The Washington Examiner asked his office to comment and explain his opposition.

What changed Democratic minds before the vote?

In the hours before the vote, several Democrats said they could not support the legislation in its current form.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada acknowledged the bill's merits — she said it would lower energy costs, hold data centers accountable, and included language she personally drafted to support clean energy and critical mineral industries. But she cited changes to the National Historic Preservation Act as disqualifying.

"But I cannot ignore the concerns that Tribes in Nevada have with this bill text," Cortez Masto said. "The changes to the National Historic Preservation Act were made without their input, and these changes violate the federal government's responsibility to engage in government-to-government Tribal consultation."

She nonetheless voted in favor of advancing the bill Monday evening — a sign that her objections remain negotiable before the final vote.

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who is expected to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee — a crucial panel for any future permitting reform negotiations — announced his opposition before the vote.

"I strongly support the portions of this bill that seek these outcomes and praise the work of my colleagues — Senators Whitehouse and Heinrich — who have strived to accomplish these objectives," Merkley said. "But at the demand of the fossil fuel titans, this bill also accelerates the extraction and burning of fossil fuels."

He added: "Very simply: getting more renewable electrons where they're needed doesn't tackle climate change if you simultaneously promote the burning of more fossil fuels. Unfortunately, this bill does exactly that." He voted against advancing the legislation.

Who remains on the fence?

Several Democrats who voted to proceed on the bill declined to commit to the final package. King told Punchbowl News he needs more assurances from the White House that the administration will fairly implement permitting reforms for wind and solar power, not only for fossil fuels.

That demand collides directly with the president's public posture. Minutes before the vote, Trump said he would not approve any wind farms, calling the projects "losers."

"The bill hasn't been fully negotiated," Trump said during an impromptu press conference. "I will not approve wind turbines because wind turbines are a major loser."

The comment sharpens the dilemma for renewable-friendly Democrats: the bill's text may treat technologies evenly, but its implementation depends on an administration openly hostile to wind power.

The full list of no votes

The 25 senators who voted against advancing the legislation:

• Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
• Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
• Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
• Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
• Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
• Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
• Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
• Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
• Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
• Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
• Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
• Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
• Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
• Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
• Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)
• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
• Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
• Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
• Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)
• Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

The bill now moves to a final Senate vote next week, with its fate in the House resting on whether the 73-vote coalition holds together.