Maj Ldr Schumer: "Senate Is Going To Stay Here Until We Finish Our Work"

Speaking on the US Senate floor, majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) states that the Senate "is going to state here until we finish our work", referring to the debate and votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget resolution related to the USD3.5trn White House infrastructure package.

• Schumer: "We must work efficiently to allow those [amendment] votes. Yesterday, was a positive day in that respect...The Senate can work through amendments rather efficiently when we have cooperation between the majority and the minority."
• Manu Raju at CNN tweets on swing Dem Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV): "Manchin told me that he wants the Senate to finish work on the infrastructure package this week and says he would support Chuck Schumer shutting down debate to force a final vote this week: "It would be nice to do that." Manchin reiterated he would back the first step in the budget process to take up the budget resolution as soon as next week. Once it passes it both chambers, then the Democrats can attempt to pass reconciliation package. "I told them I would do that and we would go from there."
• The prospect of a final vote on the bipartisan bill on Thursday looks unlikely, with Manchin and GOP Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) both saying Sunday may prove to be the day. The Senate has its summer recess pencilled in for 9 August, but this is not definitive yet.
• The positive COVID-19 test for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) may strip the bipartisan bill of one GOP supporter, given he now has to quarantine for 10 days. In the previous vote to invoke cloture and allow the bill to progress to debate, 17 Republicans voted in favour (including minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)), but this level of support is not guaranteed next time around.