Biden ‘supremely confident’ on passing bipartisan infrastructure deal

President Biden on Thursday expressed optimism on the prospects for passing a bipartisan infrastructure package, despite recent signs of trouble.

“I’m supremely confident that everything is going to work out perfectly,” he said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House. “Look, I understand why the press, among others, is skeptical that I can actually get this deal done.”

“I’ve watched and listened, in the press, declare my initiative dead at least 10 times so far … I still have confidence we’re going to be able to get what I’ve proposed and what I’ve agreed to in the bipartisan agreement on infrastructure,” he added.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said earlier on Thursday that the Senate will vote to open debate on the bipartisan infrastructure deal next week.

Biden said at the press conference that he trusts the Republican senators “who have made the commitments” about how to proceed with the package.

“They are men and women of honor and I would expect they would keep their commitment,” he added.

The bill will need 60 votes to get over Wednesday’s procedural hurdle. If every Democrat backs the measure, at least 10 GOP votes will be needed for it to advance.

Senate Democrats are also preparing to move forward on a separate budget resolution with a price tag of $3.5 trillion in spending on Biden’s priorities focused on human infrastructure.

Biden said he was equally confident that the broader package can also pass. That measure will need support from all 50 Democrats.

“There may be some last-minute discussions as to what mechanism is used to pay for each of these items, both the infrastructure package and the human infrastructure package, but I believe we will get it done,” he said.

The president’s remarks come a day after he went up to Capitol Hill to rally Democrats to support his infrastructure agenda.