Several associations gave a thumbs up to news that a bipartisan infrastructure package is moving forward in Congress, although the fate of the bill is still less than certain.

The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to advance an agreement that would allocate $550 billion for transportation, utility and broadband Internet projects, CNBC reported. Some details of the legislation have yet to be finalized, and it is unclear whether it will get the 60 votes needed to override a filibuster. At the same time, Democrats are pushing for a separate, larger reconciliation bill that would allocate as much as $3.5 trillion in spending, but at least two Democratic senators—Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona—have balked at the price tag.

The smaller, bipartisan package has wide support among business groups. Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten applauded the deal while noting there is still work ahead.

"We look forward to reviewing the details of the deal reached today and call on the Senate to invoke cloture this evening and build on this momentum by passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill in August," he said.

Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, called the agreement "history in the making."

"For many years and across multiple administrations and Congresses, the NAM has led the charge for bold, historic infrastructure investment," Timmons said. "We're not done yet, but we're closer than ever."

National Retail Federation CEO Matt Shay said he was encouraged by the decision to advance the legislation and urged swift final passage. Consumer Brands Association CEO Geoff Freeman said the agreement would lead to investments "that we have needed in this country for years, if not decades."

If there was a note of mild disappointment, it was among green energy groups, given the larger reconciliation package would allocate more money for combating climate change. Still, Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, called the deal "an important start" but added "we cannot quit there."

"To achieve the necessary emissions reductions, solar will have to grow four times faster than we are growing today," she said. "That cannot happen without a long-term extension of the Investment Tax Credit, with a direct pay option, or a policy equivalent that would drive more solar installations."

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