Justin Bullock, FISM News
The Senate is in the midst of a rare weekend session in order to finalize the drafting of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. FISM News previously reported on the Senate vote for this bill when it was sent to the Senate floor to be debated and finalized. Lawmakers reported that the bill was still not finalized on Saturday but that they expect a final version to be submitted on Sunday.
Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer told the press,
The staffs are still working and say they will have the final legislative text ready tomorrow… When the legislative text is ready, I will offer it as the substitute amendment and after that, we can begin voting on amendments… The Senate is going to move forward on both tracks of infrastructure before the beginning of the August recess. The longer it takes to finish, the longer we’ll be here. But we’re going to get the job done…
In his comments Schumer was referring both to the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which has received bipartisan support, as well as the $3.5 trillion “human infrastructure” bill that will tried to be pushed through solely by Democratic lawmakers. While the smaller bill is expected to pass relatively soon, the larger bill will receive substantial opposition from all Republicans and even some more moderate Democrats.