Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., expressed "serious concerns" after voting Wednesday for an early blueprint of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The reconciliation bill is part of the Biden administration's Build Back Better program, which could create 2 million jobs a year while improving efforts to curb climate change among other initiatives.

The Senate adopted the measure 50-49, with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., missing the vote to be with his ailing wife.

In a statement, Manchin said his concerns were about inflation and the size of the package. He said that government needs to be wary of spending "at irresponsible levels."

"Given the current state of the economic recovery, it is simply irresponsible to continue spending at levels more suited to respond to a Great Depression or Great Recession – not an economy that is on the verge of overheating,” Manchin said in the statement.

After the vote on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer admitted that “the hardest work is yet to come.” Schumer will need Manchin to pass the bill through reconciliation in an evenly divided Senate. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has also expressed criticism of the bill’s price tag.

The reconciliation bill would create bold investments in childcare, family leave, and climate change provisions. There would be $198 billion allocated for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which involves clean energy development.

Republican senators are not expected to support the bill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it "reckless" and a "taxless spending spree.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has threatened to kill the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill if the reconciliation bill fails to pass. She says there are “more than enough” House members willing to kill the bipartisan bill.

“The House will uphold our end of the bargain and not pass the bipartisan bill until we get all of these investments,” she said, in reference to priorities of the bill.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will not let either bill come to a vote in the House unless both pass the Senate.