Senators introduce bipartisan infrastructure bill in rare Sunday session | TheHill - The Hill

Senators unveiled a $1.2 trillion, eight-year infrastructure bill during a rare Sunday session after negotiators worked through the weekend.

The 2,702-page bill, spearheaded by Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanBiden's bipartisan deal faces Senate gauntlet On The Money: Justice Department says Trump's tax returns should be released | Democrats fall short of votes for extending eviction ban Photos of the Week: Olympic sabre semi-finals, COVID-19 vigil and a loris MORE (R-Ohio), Sen. Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaSenate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session Senate holds sleepy Saturday session as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal On The Money: Justice Department says Trump's tax returns should be released | Democrats fall short of votes for extending eviction ban MORE (D-Ariz.) and a larger group of roughly two dozen negotiators, is substantially narrower than the multitrillion-dollar plan envisioned by President BidenJoe BidenThe Supreme Court and blind partisanship ended the illusion of independent agencies Missed debt ceiling deadline kicks off high-stakes fight Senate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session MORE earlier this year but includes a wide range of funding for roads, bridges, transit, broadband and water.

"We are proud this evening to announce this legislation, and we look forward very much to working with our colleagues in a collaborative and open way over the coming days to work through this historic investment in infrastructure," said Sinema from the Senate floor with the other negotiators.

Portman touted the bill, saying that the group is "getting it right tonight for the American people, for our economy and for the future of our great country."

Supporters of the bill are hopeful that they can pass the measure by the end of the week, though opponents could use the Senate's rulebook to drag it out if they want to.

Though the bill, named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, costs an estimated $1.2 trillion over eight years, it includes only $550 billion in new spending. That, according to the White House, includes the largest investment ever by the federal government in public transit and the largest investment ever in clean drinking water and wastewater. 

The introduction of the bipartisan bill caps off months of behind-the-scenes negotiations among lawmakers, including announcing with Biden in late July that they had reached a deal on a framework for a $1.2 trillion bill over eight years.

After talks appeared on the brink of collapse last Monday amid intense public fighting, senators and the White House were able to get them back on track and announced Wednesday that they had reached a deal on the "major issues."

But they spent much of this week trying to resolve final sticking points, including a last-minute hiccup on broadband that negotiators say didn't get resolved until Friday. That kept negotiators perennially predicting they were on the cusp of unveiling their bill but not quite ready, kicking the Senate into a rare weekend session. 

The Senate convened on Saturday at 11 a.m. and stayed in limbo for roughly 10 hours as it waited for the group to release its legislation. But Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session Senate holds sleepy Saturday session as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal An August ultimatum: No recess until redistricting reform is done MORE (D-N.Y.) announced shortly before 10 p.m. that they need more time and that the Senate would reconvene on Sunday. 

Schumer met with four of the core Democratic negotiators on Saturday as talks continued: Sens. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerSenate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session Senate holds sleepy Saturday session as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal Democrats warn shrinking Biden's spending plan could backfire MORE (Va.), Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenSenate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session Senate holds sleepy Saturday session as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal Overnight Defense: First group of Afghan evacuees arrives in Virginia | Biden signs Capitol security funding bill, reimbursing Guard | Pentagon raises health protection level weeks after lowering it MORE (N.H.), Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterSenate infrastructure talks spill over into rare Sunday session Senate holds sleepy Saturday session as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal Democrats say they have the votes to advance .5T budget measure MORE (Mont.) and Sinema. 

Warner indicated on Saturday that pieces of the bill were still being drafted, saying that they were finishing up the "last couple pieces of legislative language." Senators appeared hopeful on Sunday morning that they would be able to quickly unveil their bill. 

But the group spent hours fine-tuning and reviewing the text on Sunday, keeping the Senate in session late into the evening. The final sticking point, according to Senate negotiators, involved appropriations. 

"We didn't get the final version until today. And then we went back through it and said, 'Well, there's still some issues,' and so that's what we were working on all afternoon," Sen. Bill CassidyBill CassidyBiden's bipartisan deal faces Senate gauntlet Senate starts infrastructure debate amid 11th-hour drama Top Democrat: 'A lot of spin' coming from White House on infrastructure MORE (R-La.), a member of the group, told The Hill. 

The Senate deal already overcame two hurdles last week, with the support of 17 GOP senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellBiden's bipartisan deal faces Senate gauntlet The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden sets new vaccine mandate as COVID-19 cases surge Democrats warn shrinking Biden's spending plan could backfire MORE (Ky.). The Senate had been using a shell bill, but Schumer started the process on Sunday night of swapping in the bipartisan text. 

Members of the bipartisan group are feeling bullish that they'll be able to pass the bill by the end of the week. 

"Start amendment process hopefully on Monday. If not, we want it to be done by Thursday. We want to move on," Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSunday shows preview: Delta concerns prompt CDC mask update; bipartisan infrastructure bill to face challenges in Senate Democrats warn shrinking Biden's spending plan could backfire Top Democrat: 'A lot of spin' coming from White House on infrastructure MORE (D-W.Va.) told CBS News's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. 

The bill is expected to face a days-long debate on the Senate floor, with Republicans, and some Democrats, eager to try to make changes after largey being on the sidelines of the bipartisan group's negotiations. 

Conservatives immediately fumed over the bill. 

“I’ve got real concerns with this bill. A lot of them," Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeBiden's bipartisan deal faces Senate gauntlet House GOP stages mask mandate protest 228 Republican lawmakers urge Supreme Court to overrule Roe v. Wade MORE (R-Utah) said before launching into a lengthy floor speech. 

Lee also bristled at the plan, which has buy-in from Republicans in the group, to quickly pass the bill this week.

"This body has no business passing this legislation in a matter of just a few days," Lee said, while specifying that he can't support it. "We at least need a few weeks."

Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - US gymnast wins all-around gold as Simone Biles cheers from the stands The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - A huge win for Biden, centrist senators The 17 Republicans who voted to advance the Senate infrastructure bill MORE (R-Utah) rebutted criticism from some on the right, including former President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump PACs brought in over M for the first half of 2021 Chicago owes Trump M tax refund, state's attorney mounts legal challenge Biden hits resistance from unions on vaccine requirement MORE, who have argued that the bill makes it easier for Democrats to pass a separate $3.5 trillion spending bill that Republicans are unified against. 

"If you don't think our Democrat friends are going to push that monstrosity with or without this bill, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. They are going to push for that anyway," Romney said. 

Passage of the bipartisan deal in the Senate would be a big win for Biden and the Senate negotiators who placed big bets that they would be able to clinch a deal, even as conservatives panned the agreement and progressives fumed over the months spent negotiating. 

"The fight for robust investments in working people should not be taking this long when Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House. Weeks have been wasted as some tried to negotiate with an obstructionist Republican party," Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalAngst grips America's most liberal city Congress must lower the Medicare Age to save the lives of older Americans House Democrats grow frustrated as they feel ignored by Senate MORE (D-Wash.) wrote in a fundraising email on Saturday. 

Democrats are pursuing Biden's sweeping infrastructure and spending proposals along two tracks: the bipartisan proposal, which they will need at least 10 GOP votes to pass in the Senate, and a separate $3.5 trillion package that they will use budget rules to pass without GOP support in the Senate. 

Progressives have pushed for the two parts to be consolidated into one bill, allowing them to bypass lengthy negotiations with Republicans. But Biden has been publicly committed to getting bipartisan support for at least part of his proposal, and moderate Senate Democrats, whose votes will be needed for the $3.5 trillion bill, have warned that without the bipartisan legislation the overall package could collapse. 

Schumer has vowed that the Senate will vote on both the bipartisan bill and a budget resolution, which greenlights and includes instructions for drafting the $3.5 trillion package, before they leave for a weeks-long summer break. 

"Look, I have set two very ambitious goals for the Senate this summer, and we are now on the way to achieving both," Schumer said on Sunday night. 

Democrats appear confident that they have the 50 votes for the budget resolution, even though they face big fights over the content of the spending bill itself later this fall. 

But they are expected to lose the first week of the summer break, which was scheduled to begin on Aug. 9, in order to pass the budget resolution. 

"I expect that not next week but the following week the budget resolution will be on the floor. It will be passed," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie SandersBernie SandersBiden's bipartisan deal faces Senate gauntlet Angst grips America's most liberal city Democrats warn shrinking Biden's spending plan could backfire MORE (I-Vt.) told reporters this week. 

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