US Senate to Pass $ 1 trillion Infrastructure Bill

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Visiting children from Houston, Texas run for the Capitol steps as Republican and Democratic leaders continue to work on an amendment to the bipartisan infrastructure bill at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, US United, August 7, 2021. REUTERS / Ken Cedeno

WASHINGTON, Aug.8 (Reuters) – The US Senate slowly moved forward on Sunday towards passage of a bipartisan $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill, held up by a Republican lawmaker who opposed the acceleration of the vote on the country’s biggest investment in roads and bridges in decades.

The Senate met at noon EDT (4:00 p.m. GMT) and was due to hold two procedural votes on Sunday evening, unless Republicans and Democrats reach agreement on amendments to the package resulting from months of bipartisan talks.

The legislation is a top priority for President Joe Biden and its passage, which remains likely after a large majority has repeatedly voted to move forward, would represent a major victory for him and the group of bipartisan lawmakers who crafted it.

The legislation took a significant step forward on Saturday, when 67 lawmakers, including 18 Republicans, voted to limit debate on the measure, comfortably exceeding the 60-vote threshold required for most 100-seat Senate laws.

But unless all 100 senators agree to speed up the process, adoption would have to wait Monday or Tuesday under parliamentary rules that require legislation to move slowly and in stages.

“I said yesterday we can do it either the easiest way or the hard way,” Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in the Senate. “Yesterday it emerged that some Republicans would like the Senate to do it the hard way. Either way, we will continue until this bill is completed.”

Once the Senate passes the bipartisan bill, it would go to the House of Representatives, which Democrats also control by a narrow margin.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly stated that she will only put the bill to a vote after the Senate passes a separate $ 3.5 trillion bill providing funding to fight the climate change and dealing with home health care, which Democrats aim to push through without Republican votes using a maneuver called “reconciliation.”

Lawmakers on both sides have been working on a deal to consider a combination of Democratic, Republican and bipartisan amendments to the $ 1,000 billion infrastructure bill under a fast-track schedule.

The effort was delayed by opposition from Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, a freshman from Tennessee who opposes speeding up legislation due in part to its effect on the federal budget deficit.

“I can’t participate in doing it that way,” said Hagerty, who was former President Donald Trump’s former ambassador to Japan on Saturday.

Hagerty announced his opposition last week, after the non-partisan Congressional budget office said the legislation would increase deficits by $ 256 billion over 10 years.

CBO’s analysis did not include $ 57 billion in additional revenue that Washington could collect in the long run from the economic growth benefits of infrastructure projects. It also did not count $ 53 billion in unused federal additional unemployment funds to be returned by states.

Hagerty showed no signs of hesitation on Saturday night, when he was approached in the Senate by a number of Republicans who fear his opposition would block votes on amendments they believe could improve the legislation.

Republican U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer on Sunday defended his support for the bill, noting that it enjoyed broad public support and included a number of provisions Republicans wanted, such as allowing road reform and bridges.

“We would like to do it by Wednesday, preferably by Monday and, better yet, today if possible,” he told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures program, arguing that ‘By passing the bill, Republicans would make it more difficult. for moderate Democrats to support the separate $ 3.5 trillion bill.

Despite Republicans’ frustration, Democrats believe the deadlock on the amendments does not threaten final passage of the infrastructure bill.

“In the end, this legislation is too important not to pass. Too important. Failure, as they say, is not an option,” Senator Tom Carper, Democratic leader of the project, told reporters. law.

Reporting by David Morgan; Additional reports by Ted Hesson, Chris Prentice and Susan Heavey; Editing by Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis and Alistair Bell

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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