WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led House approved a sizable $715 billion transportation bill Thursday, a potential investment in roads, rail, public transit and water over five years that could serve as a marker in the negotiations over a bipartisan infrastructure package.

The bill passed largely along party lines by a vote of 221-201. Just two Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the package.

President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators have already agreed to a blueprint for a new infrastructure package, but it has not yet been turned into legislation. House Democrats will be pushing to include many of their bill's provisions when Congress negotiates the broader bipartisan product this summer.

The primary author of the House bill, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said the investment being proposed would allow the country to repair bridges, roads and tunnels, thereby increasing the country's economic competitiveness while also tackling what he called the country's “new existential challenge, which is climate change.”

“We have to rebuild in ways that we never even thought about before. It's going to be expensive, but the good news is, it is going to create millions, millions of good paying jobs,” DeFazio said.

The legislation provides a potential building block toward Biden's broader infrastructure proposals. It serves as a starting point for some of the public works investments under discussion, but leaves the decision about how to pay for them for another day.