Infrastructure Bill 'Just About Finished,' Republican Susan Collins Says
Susan Collins said Sunday that the group of bipartisan lawmakers negotiating a landmark infrastructure bill are "just about finished," and that it could be passed by the end of this coming week.
The Republican senator—a member of the negotiating team—told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday she believes the bill will find enough support to avoid further partisan conflict over President Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion proposal.
"We've been finishing up the spending provisions, the appropriations provisions and marrying them to the bill, and we really are just about finished. But large parts of text have already been shared with Senate offices," Collins said.
The Maine senator said it is "my expectation and my hope" that the legislation will be passed some time this week. "We're going into the session today at 12 and I think we will be able to lay down the bill later today and begin, perhaps, consideration of some amendments," she told Tapper.
"My hope is that we'll finish the bill by the end of the week."
A comfortable majority of the Senate has already backed the bill in two votes, though the final text has not yet been sent to lawmakers. On Friday, the senators voted by 66-28 to take up the bill, with 16 Republicans joining the chamber's 48 Democrats and two independents.
Asked if the final bill will win GOP support, Collins told Tapper: "I believe that it will. This bill is good for America."
"Every senator can look at bridges and roads, and need for more broadband, waterways in their states, seaports, airports, and see the benefits, the very concrete benefits—no pun intended—of this legislation. It's going to make us more competitive, more productive: it's going to create good jobs."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate on Saturday that the bill would be ready by Sunday. Sen. Joe Manchin also told CNN on Sunday he expected the final text by Sunday.
Establishment Democrats and Republicans are supporting the bill, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday: "Every American is going to see a difference and I think that's one of the reasons why you had this extraordinary sight, something you just don't see in today's Washington very often, on a major issue, which is Republicans and Democrats coming together, saying, 'Let's do this'."
Biden has faced criticism from inside his own party. Progressive Democrats say the bill is not ambitious enough and fails to adequately fund climate and social initiatives.
Democrats are proposing their own separate $3.5 trillion package which they have said they will try to pass without Republican backing.
