"The easy way or the hard way," Schumer to keep Senate in session until infrastructure bill passes
Record ID:
1631123
"The easy way or the hard way," Schumer to keep Senate in session until infrastructure bill passes
- Title: "The easy way or the hard way," Schumer to keep Senate in session until infrastructure bill passes
- Date: 7th August 2021
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 7, 2021) (SENATE TV) WIDE OF SENATE FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER SAYING: We can get this done the easy way or the hard way. In either case, the Senate will stay in session until we finish our work. It's up to my Republican colleagues how long it takes. I yield the floor" WIDE OF FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL SAYING: "This isn't exactly the bill I would have written on my own in my office and 99 of my colleagues would say the very same thing. This is a compromise product crafted by colleagues with big principled differences in a Senate with the narrowest possible split. But in my view, what our early statesmen called internal improvement is a core government responsibility. The American people need roads, bridges, ports and airports to build our businesses, build our families and build our lives. Republicans and Democrats have radically different visions these days, but both those visions include physical infrastructure that works for all of our citizens. " WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL SAYING: "There are many outstanding amendments that are important that would improve this legislation and that deserve a vote before the Senate is asked to vote on final passage of this bill. The full Senate deserves its full chance to shape this important legislation. I hope senators can work together in a bipartisan way to get more amendments up and continue improving this important bill. Our colleagues on both sides deserve to be heard." WIDE OF FLOOR
- Embargoed: 21st August 2021 16:54
- Keywords: Biden McConnell Schumer Senate infrastructure
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES/ INTERNET
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES/ INTERNET
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPA6RT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The U.S. Senate met for the second weekend in a row on Saturday (August 7) in hopes of passing a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, with its top Democrat warning members he would hold them in Washington through their scheduled summer break if needed.
The package, which represents the biggest investment in decades in America's physical infrastructure including roads, bridges, airports and waterways, will face a key test at noon EDT (1600 GMT), when lawmakers are due to vote on whether to limit debate on the legislation.
"We can get this done the easy way or the hard way. In either case, the Senate will stay in session until we finish our work," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech. "It's up to my Republican colleagues how long it takes."
If Saturday's vote succeeds, Schumer will try to move quickly to pass the bill, in what would be a major victory for President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators who spent months crafting the package.
The chamber's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, signaled his support for the bill.
"Republicans and Democrats have radically different visions these days, but both those visions include physical infrastructure that works for all of our citizens," McConnell said.
After hours of closed-door negotiations, senators were unable to reach agreement on Thursday on a final batch of amendments before many lawmakers left town to attend the funeral on Friday of former Senator Mike Enzi in Wyoming. Twenty-two amendments have already been debated.
Negotiations were continuing, according to a person familiar with the talks. Unless all 100 senators consent to waive rules governing the legislative process, the Senate will have to pursue a series of procedural votes that could delay a vote on passage until as late as Monday or Tuesday.
(Production: Pavithra George) - Copyright Holder: SENATE TV (USA)
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