During a caucus conference call two weeks ago, according to those familiar with it, moderates pleaded for quick infrastructure action so they had something to tout during the next recess. After months of promoting their plans to address crumbling bridges and outdated lead pipes, Democrats said they were hearing voters complain at town halls at the lack of progress.

Vulnerable members like Slotkin and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) in particular, whose Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigned to “fix the damn roads,” see the infrastructure push as key to their reelection efforts.

“We absolutely cannot go home empty-handed,” one frontline aide said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the group’s internal thoughts.

However, progressives including Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) said they weren’t budging in their opposition to passing infrastructure before a reconciliation measure.

Shortly after Omar walked hand-in-hand with Pelosi down Capitol stairs, she told reporters the two bills were still “linked” and she would “absolutely not” be willing to advance the infrastructure bill alone. “We are not passing anything short of having the full Build Back Better agenda,” Omar vowed.