Senate holds sleepy session on Saturday as negotiators finalize infrastructure deal

The Senate holds an infrequent session on Saturday as bipartisan negotiators scramble to finalize their $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

The generally sleepy session comes as the bipartisan Senate gang hope to finish and officially unveil the text of its deal on Saturday, after initially predicting it could be ready by early afternoon.

However, negotiations could slide until Sunday.

But mid-afternoon on Saturday, the Senate group was still working to finalize its deal, leaving the chamber in limbo. A potential sign that the text was still a few hours away, the Senate took a break just before 3 p.m., giving upstairs staff time to wait for legislation.

His. Mark WarnerMark Robert Warner Democrats warn cutting Biden spending plan could backfire Democrats join GOP to pressure Biden over China. (D-Va.), A member of the bipartisan group, said lawmakers were still finishing the “last two pieces of legislative language.”

“I think on a beautiful Saturday in late July, we all wish we were maybe somewhere other than the Senate floor,” Warner said.

“I hope we will be done as soon as possible so that we can present this bill, propose amendments, have a debate,” he added.

Members of the bipartisan Senate group said on Friday that the bill was still being drafted but that they had hoped to have it completed by Saturday morning. But when the Senate met at 11 a.m. on Saturday, senators were still awaiting the final text.

“Biparty group senators continue to finalize text of deal,” Senate majority leader said Charles schumerChuck Schumer August ultimatum: No break until redistribution reform is complete Biden to meet with 11 Democratic lawmakers on DACA: report Schumer decided to transform transit and deepen democracy MORE (DN.Y.) said from the Senate.

Negotiations appeared to continue late Saturday afternoon, with four of the top five Democratic negotiators – Warner, Sen. Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenOvernight Defense: The first group of Afghan evacuees arrives in Virginia | Biden signs Capitol Hill security funding bill and reimburses custody | Pentagon Raises Health Protection Levels Weeks After Lowering It Balance / Sustainability – Presented by NextEra Energy – Clean Energy Reuses Dirty Energy CIA Watchdog to Review Case Management of ” Havana syndrome »MORE (DN.H.), sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) Tester Democrats say they have the voices to push forward .5T budget measure The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Huge win for Biden, centrist senators vote in Senate to strike infrastructure deal (D-Mont.) And Sen. Kyrsten CinemaKyrsten SinemaOn money: Justice Department says Trump’s tax returns should be released | Democrats fail to vote for extended deportation ban Senate kicks off infrastructure debate amid 11th hour drama The Hill’s Morning Report – Featured by Facebook – Biden sets new vaccine mandate as COVID-19 cases increase MORE (D-Ariz.) – spotted walking towards Schumer’s office.

Legislative purgatory comes after the bipartisan group said on Wednesday it had an agreement among its members and with the White House on the “big issues.” But they continued to negotiate the remaining sticking points until Friday.

There was also an eleventh hour drama on Friday that momentarily delayed the vote to officially start debate after Republicans feared that a version of the bill circulating around Capitol Hill was a backhanded effort by Democrats to offer their preferred version of the legislation.

The deal has already overcome two initial hurdles, and if the bipartisan group is able to officially unveil the text on Saturday, the Senate could start voting on potential changes as early as Sunday afternoon. No vote has been scheduled, and senators and advisers have warned that when the upper house begins voting is directly tied to when the text of the bipartisan bill is tabled.

Some senators bristled at the rapid pace.

“This coming week, the Senate is expected to pass a $ 1,000 billion / 3,000 page infrastructure bill and separately on three major spending bills. Marco rubioMarco Antonio RubioBreak glass in case of emergency – but not for climate change Democrats join GOP to pressure Biden on China virus origins Senators introduce bipartisan bill to expand aid partnerships foreign MORE (R-Fla.) Tweeted on Saturday.

But senators hope to conclude their debate on the bill by the end of next week, paving the way for Democrats to turn their attention to a budget resolution that gives the green light to passage of the bill. a $ 3.5 trillion plan without GOP support.

Schumer pledged to vote on both the bipartisan bill and the budget resolution before letting the Senate leave for a week’s summer recess. The Senate was scheduled to start this recess on August 9, but it is likely to lose the first week to complete the two-part infrastructure debate.

“I have said for weeks that the Senate will move forward on the two infrastructure tracks before the August recess begins. The longer it takes to finish, the longer we’ll be here, but we’re going to get the job done, ”Schumer said.

Updated at 16:01