Infrastructure bill: Schumer announced that the bipartisan committee has finalized the legal text
2 min read“The bipartisan senators’ panel has finished writing the text of the infrastructure bill,” the New York Democrat said, adding, “and in a moment I will take practical steps to make their legislative language the basis of the bill here.”
Now that the text is complete, Schumer has submitted it as an alternative amendment, which is the basis of the bilateral infrastructure bill. This allows the Senate to begin what could be a long-running amendment process. Schumer said on the floor, “How much is a bilateral bill?”
After announcing that the text of the bilateral infrastructure bill had been finalized, Schumer said the group’s efforts were “not easy to make major bills in the Senate these days, especially bilateral bills.”
“It has been decades, decades since Congress passed a remarkably unique investment and I bow my head for the hard work that everyone here has done,” he added.
More than half of the bill – $ 550 billion – includes new federal funds to be spent over five years. $ 73 billion to rebuild power grid, $ 66 billion on passenger and freight trains, $ 65 billion to expand broadband internet access, $ 55 billion to build water infrastructure, $ 40 billion to repair bridges, $ 39 billion to modernize public transport such as buses and $ 7.5 billion to invest in electricity Create the first federal network of charging stations for vehicles.
Schumer reiterated his two-pronged goal of implementing both the bilateral infrastructure bill and the budget resolution before the August break.
“The bilateral infrastructure bill is absolutely necessary, but for many of us it is not enough,” he said on his floor. “That’s why once this bill is passed, the Senate Democrats will allow the Senate to make more historically significant investments with the budget resolution.
Members of the bilateral committee spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the expected announcement Sunday night.
“We know this is a long and sometimes difficult task, but we’re proud to announce this legislation this evening,” said Arizona Democrat Cher. Kirsten Cinema, lead negotiator said.
“This process worked from the center,” said Sen, another Republican from Ohio and another key negotiator. Said Rob Portman.
The group has been working on the law for months, and last week an agreement was reached on key issues between Democrats and Republicans in the $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure project.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Christine Wilson and Lauren Fox contributed to the report.
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