Chuck Schumer says the Senate comes to an agreement to organize the resolution

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

The New York Democrat reached an agreement with minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., On how to share power in a Senate division between 50 and 50. The two discussed for weeks how to structure the Senate rules, technically leaving Republicans in control of the commissions they decide when to go ahead with nominations and legislation.

Schumer said the Senate will pass the organizational resolution Wednesday later. The approval would mean that “committees can be set up quickly and start working with Democrats who keep hammers,” he added.

Republicans worked with Democrats to confirm several of President Joe Biden’s nominees while they still held committee power. The Senate on Tuesday approved Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and National Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and gave Biden six cabinet members confirmed by the chamber.

However, GOP control threatened to delay the approval of at least one of Biden’s candidates. Judicial Committee top Republican and Democrat Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Dick Durbin of Illinois, respectively, had not agreed on holding a confirmation hearing of Attorney General candidate Merrick Garland.

McConnell had sought assurances that Democrats would not eliminate the filibuster, which would allow any legislation to be passed by a majority of votes. The disagreement became debatable when Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona said they would not vote to get rid of the tool.

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

A budget resolution, which the chamber hopes to pass this week, instructs committee chairs to draft provisions for the bailout package. Schumer and incoming committee leaders are scheduled to meet with Biden on Wednesday.

Incoming Senate committee chairs will include:

• Senator Sherrod Brown, of Ohio, to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
• Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to the Committee on Budgets
• Senator Ron Wyden, of Oregon, on the Finance Committee
• Senator Patty Murray of Washington on the Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions
• Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington on the Trade Committee
• Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Senator Dick Durbin, of Illinois, to the Judicial Committee

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