Sen. Durbin: Infrastructure bill will pass “within a matter of days maybe weeks” as gov. shutdown looms

Posted on September 22, 2021
U.S. Dick Durbin. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – President Biden is holding meetings with key lawmakers on infrastructure talks in what Illinois” Senior Senator says could result in a bill in the matter of “days or weeks.”

Sen. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Springfield) said the President is meeting with lawmakers to focus on domestic issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Durbin, the goal of the nation’s leader is to find common ground on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

“I am hopeful that within a matter of days maybe weeks, we are going to pass this bipartisan bill which I supported, most Democrats and Republicans did in the Senate, and if we could do the same thing in the House, it’s an important measure that would help us in this state.”

Last month 19 Senate Republicans joined their counterparts across the aisle to pass a $550 billion bill to authorize spending on transportation measures like roads, bridges, and public transit.

LISTEN: Senator Durbin spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. 

“The other part of this, the reconciliation package is one we’re still working on; there are important things there,” Durbin told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “I think that most American’s would agree are valuable to families and senior citizens across our state if we can find a way to do it, and do it without adding to the deficit, then I think it’s the responsible thing to do.”

Lawmakers are looking to vote on a proposed bill before a governmental shutdown deadline of Sept. 30.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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