Two weeks ago, before the recess, Blunt attempted to offer the amendment but was stopped by Reid, who said it was a distraction from the underlying legislation and that the rule has not yet been finalized in the Obama White House.

But on Tuesday Reid said he saw no other way forward for the highway bill that has been foundering in the Senate for most of February.

"Republicans made it clear we would not be able to move forward on this bill without a vote," said Reid, speaking from the Senate floor. "I believe it is vital to get this jobs bill done, but standing in the way are Republicans … so after discussing it I have decided we should just set up a vote on the Blunt amendment"

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Reid, however, reiterated his opposition to the legislation, saying Republicans had "stunned" him by trying to tack it onto the highway bill.

“I was stunned,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. I said, 'what is going on here?' And I objected at the time.

“I didn't see why this bill was the appropriate place for an amendment on contraception and women's health,” he said.

The vote, Reid said, will occur at an unspecified time on Thursday and will likely be accompanied by a number of other votes on amendments from both sides that are not germane to the underlying bill. Reid also added that if all goes well, the Senate could finish work on the underlying transportation bill by the end of next week.