Senate reaches agreement on organization of resolution, says Chuck Schumer

Senate leaders have reached an agreement to transfer control of committees to Democrats, two weeks after the party took control of the chamber, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday.

The New York Democrat has reached an agreement with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., On how to share power in a 50-50 split Senate. The two argued for weeks over how to structure Senate rules, technically leaving Republicans in charge of the committees that decide when to move forward with appointments and legislation.

Schumer said the Senate would pass the organizational resolution later Wednesday. The approval will mean that “committees can quickly fall into place and get down to business with Democrats holding the hammer,” he added.

Republicans worked with Democrats to confirm several of President Joe Biden’s candidates while they still held committee power. The Senate on Tuesday approved Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, giving Biden six chamber-confirmed cabinet members.

Even so, GOP scrutiny threatened to delay approval of at least one of Biden’s candidates. Senior Republicans and Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Dick Durbin of Illinois, respectively, disagreed on when to hold a confirmation hearing for attorney general candidate Merrick Garland.

The deal comes as Democrats try to approve a $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to support the healthcare system and the economy. They have started the process of budget reconciliation, which will allow them to approve a bill with only Democratic votes in the Senate.

A budget resolution, which the chamber hopes to adopt this week, instructs committee chairs to draft provisions in the bailout. Schumer and the new committee leaders plan to meet with Biden on Wednesday.

This story is developing. Please come back for updates.

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