[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             INFRASTRUCTURE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, on another matter, infrastructure, our 
Nation's economic potential depends on the quality of its 
infrastructure. Our businesses, workers, farmers, manufacturers--you 
name it--they all depend on the infrastructure networks that connect 
our country. And here in the 21st century, electrical grids and 
broadband internet access are just as important as roads, bridges, and 
highways.
  But it has been decades--decades--since Congress passed a 
significant, stand-alone bill to increase Federal investment in 
infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are crumbling. Children learn in 
dilapidated schools. Large swaths of rural America lack access to 
broadband internet.
  We need to refashion much of our infrastructure to address the 
existential threat of climate change. That is so important and 
essential to the overwhelming majority of my caucus. So the Senate, 
this summer, is going to move forward on multiple legislative proposals 
to make historic investments in our Nation's infrastructure. And when 
we say that, we mean both types of infrastructure: the concrete and 
steel and that kind of infrastructure--the physical infrastructure--but 
also the human infrastructure, so that we can maximize the potential of 
our people which, after all, is our greatest resource--our greatest 
resource.
  So we are pursuing on multiple--we are making two tracks. The first 
legislative track is bipartisan. The second track will incorporate 
elements of the American jobs and families plan and will be done 
through the budget process, which must pass even if it is not 
bipartisan.
  There has been significant progress this week on both tracks.
  Yesterday, a bipartisan group of Senators announced that they had 
reached an agreement in concept for a bipartisan infrastructure 
proposal, and I have encouraged them to move forward. But I made it 
explicit to every one of them, together and separately, that we have to 
pass both tracks together.
  Speaker Pelosi and I were made aware of the concepts of the 
agreement--the bipartisan agreement--last night. And while we have yet 
to see the details, I am encouraged by the progress the bipartisan 
group of Senators has made. I have supported these bipartisan 
discussions from the beginning, and I want to thank my colleagues for 
their hard work.
  Senate Democrats have also made significant progress on preparing a 
budget resolution.
  These two efforts are tied together. Let me make that clear. The 
bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget resolution are tied 
together. If the Senate is going to move forward with a bipartisan 
infrastructure bill, we must also move forward on a budget resolution, 
as well. I have discussed this with President Biden directly on several 
occasions, and he agrees that we cannot do one without the other, and 
he has let the participants know that. Speaker Pelosi agrees that we 
cannot do one without the other. All parties understand that we won't 
get enough votes to pass either unless we have enough votes to pass 
both.
  When the Senate returns in July, it will be time to take the next 
step and hold the first votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill on 
the floor of the Senate. Senators should also be prepared to consider a 
budget resolution that will clear the way for the budget reconciliation 
bill as soon as possible.
  The bottom line is, both tracks need to make progress concurrently.
  This is about building a foundation for the United States to remain 
the world economic leader in the 21st century. We are the largest 
economy in the world, but our infrastructure ranks 13th, behind South 
Korea, Germany, Japan, and even the United Arab Emirates.
  There isn't a community in this country without some glaring 
infrastructure challenge--certainly, in my home State of New York. If 
America is going to prosper in the 21st century, we can't have 
infrastructure that is stuck in the last century.
  We need to pass major investment in infrastructure, both physical and 
human, this year, and I look forward to holding the first votes when we 
return for the July work period.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________