Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Infrastructure Vote Set For Wednesday; Republicans Fight It All The Way
NBC News: Schumer Sets Wednesday Vote To Begin Senate Debate On Infrastructure Deal
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set a vote for Wednesday to begin debate on bipartisan infrastructure legislation, even as Republicans threatened to block the motion unless the agreement is finalized by then. "They have been working on this bipartisan framework for a month already. It's time to begin the debate," Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday, adding that the leading Democratic negotiators "support this approach." (Kapur, Thorp V and Caldwell, 7/19)
Politico: GOP: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Has 'No Chance' On Wednesday
In his floor remarks Monday evening, Schumer said the legislation could be amended as early as Thursday if the bipartisan group finalizes legislative text by then. If not, Schumer said the Senate could begin voting on legislation that has passed infrastructure-focused committees with bipartisan support. Schumer said all five Democrats negotiating the bill, including Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), supported his approach. He reiterated that Wednesday's vote is part of a "routine process" and that "it's a sign of good faith from both sides that negotiations will continue in earnest." (Everett and Levine, 7/19)
The Washington Post: Infrastructure Deal In Precarious State As Endgame Nears
President Biden on Monday took a subtle yet unmistakable dig at Republicans who have backed away from a major funding component in a bipartisan infrastructure package that is now starting to fray, saying pointedly that “we shook hands on it” even as he continued to promote the agreement. Biden’s comment, with its accusatory undertones, reflected the agreement’s precarious state at the outset of what could be a pivotal week. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to force a vote within days to advance the roughly $1 trillion plan despite the Republican hesitations, a high-stakes gamble that is intended to force agreement but that GOP senators on Monday warned they would reject. (Kim, 7/19)
KHN: Sen. Wyden: $3.5T Budget May Have To Trim But It Can Set A Path To ‘Ambitious Goals’
Exactly what American health care will look like if Democrats can pass their $3.5 trillion spending plan is unclear, but the senator negotiating its health-related provisions hopes what emerges will be dramatic: the first complete health care system for older Americans and significantly reduced costs for everyone else. “We are setting very, very ambitious goals,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told KHN. “And that’s appropriate because the fact is a lot of challenges have gotten short shrift — and I’m not just talking about the last four years, I’m talking about 10 years.” (McAuliff, 7/20)
And in other news from Capitol Hill —
Axios: 6th Texas Democrat In D.C. Tests Positive For COVID
A sixth member of the Texas Democratic delegation that fled their state for D.C. in an effort to block a state GOP voting bill has tested positive for COVID-19, the Dallas Morning News first reported Monday night. State Rep. Rafael Anchia told the outlet that all 55 members of the delegation had been observing CDC guidelines, adding: "We're grateful that 100% of us were vaccinated in advance…. This delta variant is no joke." (Falconer, 7/20)
CNN: Harris Tests Negative For Covid-19 Following Meeting With Texas Democrats Who Tested Positive
Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative for Covid-19 following a meeting with Texas state House Democrats, several of whom later tested positive, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. An official in the vice president's office said that Harris' testing occurred before her "routine doctor's appointment" at Walter Reed Hospital, not because of the meeting with Texas legislators. (Wright, 7/19)
AP: Florida Rep. Buchanan Positive For COVID Despite Vaccine
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan said Monday he has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus even though he was fully vaccinated against the disease. The Republican congressman’s announcement came as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a “seasonal pattern” affecting mainly Sun Belt states is largely to blame for a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state. (Anderson, 7/19)
