[Epoch Times, July 31, 2021](Reported by English Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips / compiled by Takasugi) After several weeks of negotiations, the U.S. Senate decided after voting on Friday (July 30) that it will start discussing White House support A $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
On Friday, the House of Lords voted 66 to 28 to formally start a debate on the bill. Sixteen Republicans and all Democrats voted for the start of the debate, crossing the 60-vote threshold that might obstruct the process.
This infrastructure plan, described by some as a “bipartisan bill,” includes approximately $550 billion in new spending and the previously approved $450 billion. Part of the funds for this infrastructure bill will be used to build electric vehicle charging stations and to remove lead water pipes throughout the United States.
The Democratic Party’s goal is to pass another 3.5 trillion U.S. dollar infrastructure bill at the same time, which will include huge expenditures such as climate response and social security. Republicans have already hinted that they will use filibuster to block the passage of the bill in the bipartisan Senate. This has prompted some Democrats to respond to the suggestion that they will use the budget reconciliation process to pass the bill alone without a Republican vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote on Friday: “Given the bipartisan nature of the bill, the Senate should be able to deal with this legislation fairly quickly.” “We may need a weekend, we may There will be a vote on several amendments. With the cooperation of colleagues in the Republican Party, I believe that we can pass this bipartisan infrastructure bill within a few days.”
Schumer added on Friday that he plans to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the climate and social spending bill introduced by the Democratic Party before the senators take their summer vacation. The Congressional summer break was originally scheduled to begin in the second week of August.
As lawmakers questioned how the bill will affect broadband Internet access, voting was suspended for more than 45 minutes, which shows the complexity of the bill and the political background involved. Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, said lawmakers have been confused by the many different versions of the bill.
The senators plan to continue work on the comprehensive bill over the weekend. The bill will significantly increase US spending on roads, bridges, transportation, and airports. Supporters predict that the bill will eventually be passed in the Senate and House of Representatives, and will eventually be sent to President Biden’s desk, where he will sign it into law.
West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who holds the key swing vote, said on Friday: “When you ask Chuck Schumer and Mickey McConnell ( (Mitch McConnell) to vote together on such a big bill is a good thing in itself.”. He was referring to the Senate Republican leader who also voted to advance the bill.
However, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives and California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi, emphasized to the media last weekend that if the $3.5 trillion bill is not passed, then the $1 trillion infrastructure bill will also Will not be able to vote in Congress.
This week, former U.S. President Donald Trump (Trump) warned Republican senators to stay away from the infrastructure bill introduced by Democrats, saying that Democrats operate for another purpose.
Trump said in a statement on Friday: “Once they pass this bill in the Senate, it will remain in the House of Representatives until the largest government expansion of this generation: increasing taxes for all, by the government. Operating health care, more government-run schools, amnesties for illegal immigrants, masks, and more terrible socialist projects overwhelm everyone.”
It seems that Trump is responding to Pelosi’s comments over the weekend. The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces also added: “Nancy Pelosi said that unless they get everything else, there will be no infrastructure bill.”
Reuters also contributed to this article.
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei#
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