Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Moving Forward On Infrastructure On Two Tracks And Meeting With Budget Committee Democrats On Producing A Budget Resolution Later Today

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the importance of moving forward with infrastructure on two tracks and on the need for a budget resolution that will put the United States on track for significant reductions in emissions. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Senators are moving forward this week on two major legislative initiatives: infrastructure and voting rights.

Bipartisan infrastructure talks continue in our Senate committees and among our members. Remember, discussions about infrastructure – both physical and human – are proceeding along two tracks. The first track is bipartisan, and I understand there has been some progress.

The second track pulls in elements of President Biden’s American Jobs and Families Plan, and will be considered by the Senate even if it does not have bipartisan support.

Today, we are going to start moving the trains down the second track. I will convene a meeting with all the members of the majority party on the Senate Budget Committee to begin the important work of producing a Budget Resolution for the Senate to consider. This is something we planned for quite a while, but we're moving forward today after having individual discussions with many members of the Budget Committee. And it’s a diverse committee. Senator Sanders is the Chair. Senators Warner and Kaine are on it as well.

There are many items to discuss, but one subject is not up for debate: I will instruct members to ensure that any budget resolution puts the United States on track to reduce carbon pollution at a scale commensurate with the climate crisis.

We need significant reductions in emissions through clean energy, electric vehicles, as well as funding to help manufacturers and farmers be part of the solution in fighting climate change. The American Families plan, as well, is essential to the forthcoming budget resolution and must be robustly funded.

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