[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today, the Senate will take up a series 
of votes to confirm three highly qualified nominees to the Biden 
administration: Jason Miller for Deputy OMB Director, Janet McCabe for 
Deputy EPA Administrator, and Colin Kahl for Under Secretary of Defense 
for Policy.
  And then, later this afternoon, the Senate will move forward with the 
process to take up the bipartisan water infrastructure bill. I expect 
the Senate will do so with significant bipartisan support.
  The water infrastructure bill is as noncontroversial as it gets. It 
was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee on a 
unanimous consent vote--every single Democrat, every single 
Republican--thanks to the good work of Chairman Carper and Ranking 
Member Capito. This water infrastructure bill is also a core component 
of the Republican infrastructure proposal released last week. So I hope 
this legislation will serve as a starting point for our two parties to 
collaborate on infrastructure when and where we can. At the moment, 
Senators Carper, Duckworth, and Cardin continue discussions with 
Republican Senators about possible amendments.
  But let me be very clear: The Senate must conclude its work on the 
water infrastructure bill before the end of the week.
  This is not a controversial bill or a complicated new program. In too 
many communities, access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water 
is not a guarantee. Surely, we can all agree that in America clean 
drinking water should be a fundamental guarantee.
  The Senate must take first necessary steps to invest in communities 
with aging water infrastructure by passing this bill, and we must do so 
this week.

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