The bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus voted to endorse the bipartisan infrastructure framework recently and urged leadership to schedule an “expeditious, stand-alone vote” in the House, according to Punchbowl News. Committees are currently drafting legislative text for the bipartisan infrastructure framework, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the Senate would vote on it in July along with a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2022.
POLITICO reports the bipartisan infrastructure deal could be ready for floor consideration in the Senate as early as the week of July 19. Lawmakers are still trying to iron out the details to cover all new spending. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested Tuesday that he believes the bipartisan deal could pass the Senate if it is fully paid for and does not add to the debt.
The Hill reports some Senate Democrats, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), are concerned with the financing mechanisms in the bipartisan infrastructure proposal, raising red flags about repurposing COVID relief dollars allocated for unemployment and state assistance. Chairman Wyden has reportedly been crafting his own proposal to fund major infrastructure investments and is awaiting approval from Leader Schumer to unveil his plan. His proposal is expected to include tax increases on corporations and provisions to tax unrealized capital gains.
Bloomberg reports Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said last Friday Democrats have been warned by leadership that the House could remain in session for the first or second week in August if they have not passed a budget resolution for fiscal year 2022 by the end of July. A budget resolution is expected to contain reconciliation instructions and unlock the budget reconciliation process that only requires a simple majority vote in the Senate.
This article was provided to OSAE by ASAE's Power of A and Inroads.