Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Introducing The Text of Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation For Consideration By The Senate
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor in advance of making the text of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation the substitute amendment of the pending legislative vehicle, beginning its consideration by the full Senate. Senator Schumer reiterated that after consideration of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, he will put forward the budget resolution. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
I want to thank my colleagues for their fine speeches and I very much appreciate them.
The bipartisan group of Senators has finished writing the text of the infrastructure bill and, in a moment, I will take the procedural steps to make their legislative language the base of the bill here on the floor.
I want to congratulate the members of the bipartisan group for their efforts. We haven’t done a large, bipartisan bill of this nature in a long time. I want to especially thank the staffs, who have burned the midnight oil many a night, for their diligence, hard work, intelligence, and skill. Thank you staff listening and a few in the room here tonight.
These days it is not easy to do major bills in the Senate, especially bipartisan ones. So I’ve tried to prod the negotiators along when they’ve needed it, and given them space when they’ve asked for it.
In the end, the bipartisan group of Senators have produced a bill that will dedicate substantial resources to repair, maintain, and upgrade our nation’s physical infrastructure.
It has been decades—decades—since Congress passed such a significant, stand-alone investment. In order for our economy, workers and businesses to succeed in the 21st Century, we cannot have infrastructure that’s stuck in the last century. The bipartisan infrastructure bill is designed to bring our infrastructure up to date for a new century, and that is a significant achievement.
Now for the future, for the information of Senators, here is how we plan to move forward.
I will offer the text of the bipartisan infrastructure bill as a substitute amendment, as I promised, making it the base of the bill. Then, the Senate will work to consider additional amendments to the bipartisan framework.
Given how bipartisan the bill is, and how much work has already been put in to get the details right, I believe the Senate can quickly process relevant amendments and pass this bill in a matter of days.
Then, I will move the Senate along the second track of our infrastructure effort and take up the budget resolution.
A bipartisan infrastructure bill is definitely necessary – but to many of us it is not sufficient.
That is why, soon after this bill passes the Senate, Democrats will press forward with a budget resolution to allow the Senate to make further, historic vitally important investments in American jobs, American families, and efforts to reverse climate change.
Look, I have set two very ambitious goals for the Senate this summer and we are now on the way to achieving both. Both tracks: this one and the other, but we are on the way to achieving them both.
As I said these tracks are very much needed by the American people, and we must accomplish both.
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