and i will not be distracted from that job. we have a lot to do. we still have to manage the covid beast. it is not dead yet. it's not over. we then have to reopen and re-imagine our state. because our future is going to be what we make it. i know we can do these things because i know the strength and the character of new yorkers. look at the progress we made on covid, it is amazing. we went from the highest infection rate in the country to one of the lowest infection rates in the country. nobody thought that we could do it, but new yorkers did it. that shows that there's nothing that we can't do when we work together. together, together as one, as one community, as one family, as

new yorkers, we will. thank you. >> chuck schumer addressed sexual harassment allegations against new york governor cuomo and called for him to resign. senator schumer said the senate would continue working until it passes both the infrastructure package and budget resolution.

[laughter] [applause] >> the prerogatives of the majority. [laughter] can we have some quiet place? good afternoon. i am proud to be joined by fellow senators. when the democrats won the majority, i said it was the end of the senate legislative graveyard. the senate is moving forward on our two track infrastructure and

we are making good progress. we have already held more votes on amendments then in any recent years under leader mcconnell. we are only in july. 56 amendments have received roll call votes this year. yesterday, we voted on three of them and adopted two of them. they were adopted by more than 90 votes. today, we voted on two more amendments. this is how the senate is supposed to work. i am proud of the work done by our members throughout the weekend to move the bill forward. the senate will continue to work through the bipartisan infrastructure bill on the floor, but we must work efficiently to set up the votes.

that requires cooperation between the majority and minority. as a reminder to everyone, we have already gone through this process with several bipartisan bills this year. since i know all of you want to know about the upcoming schedule, the senate will complete both the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the budget resolution before we leave for august recess. timing for the next step will be driven by when we finish the bipartisan infrastructure built. the senate is going to stay here until we finish our work. i have told my members to keep their schedules flexible as we may need to work through the weekends to get the job done. i hope we can use our time in the senate efficiently. the longer it takes to finish

the bill, the longer we will be here. senator durbin? >> many on the republican side want us to forget january 6. they don't want questions ask about what occurred that led up to that event. the reality is that we cannot forget that anymore than we can forget the victims january 6. yesterday it was announced by the d.c. police department two more officers have taken their lives who participated in january 6. that is a heartbreaking situation. it makes the point whether it is a commission, a bipartisan commission which we supported and senator mcconnell opposed or

a special committee by speaker pelosi, there are many questions that have to be asked to make sure the record is complete and we don't end up with a smorgasbord of conspiracy theories which we are hearing from the right wing which blame everyone but the real culprits. this experience on the floor of the senate, i want to echo the words of senator schumer, brings to mind the senate that i knew and i thought it was an institution. for so many years, we have been bogged down by the filibuster, i the 60 vote rule, by the effort to keep everything off the floor and everything away from a roll call vote. you can see this week when the senate comes alive with this infrastructure bill, a different attitude. people know that we can make history this week by passing it infrastructure bill long

overdue. there was no infrastructure bill under president trump. now we have a chance to pass a bill that puts america to work and builds america's economy to compete in the 21st century. that is a responsibility we share in both political parties. >> it is clear to anyone who has seen how devastating the last year and a half has been and anyone who has listen to the people of this country that now is a time for action. action to address the threat of climate change. action to address the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, and action to make sure we are never in this situation again. now is the time to rebuild our nation for everyone. that means building an infrastructure that is more resilient, acceptable, and equitable so every community has

clean water, transit, high-speed internet. it means creating good paying union jobs and staying competitive. which is why this infrastructure package is so important. as the pandemic has shown us, building a stronger, fairer nation means building an economy where every worker has quality, affordable childcare and paid family and medical leave. it means building a system where every young learner has pre-k and every adult learner has the option to pursue a higher education. it means modernizing our public health system and ensuring that it serves every community. keeping a roof over every head and making sure housing is affordable. making sure people with disabilities and older americans have the services they need to

live independently. people do not have time to wait. families in my home state are paying more for childcare than rent. parents across america are choosing between a paycheck and staying home to care for a newborn. communities are facing effects of climate change like the wildfires out west that will become a part of every summer. that's why we need to take action right now. >> i know all of you are focused on the process and the schedule. we are focused on trying to get done. that is what we are excited and committed about.

what most americans want is a fair shot to be able to take care of their families and get ahead. democrats are not leaving until we get things done to get that. working with republican colleagues when they share our values which is terrific. continuing on our own to complete the agenda american working families need and deserve. roads, bridges, getting rid of lead in the pipes is important. then, we will tackle the climate crisis and create millions of jobs in the process which is exciting. we are not stopping there. we can't build back better without building up families. we will continue the biggest tax cut in a generation for working families and we will bring down

the cost of the things that keep people up at night. childcare, cost of medicine, cost of college and more. the good news is, we can pay for all of it by making sure that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. people who are working hard every day are trying to get ahead. they need to know that someone has their back. the good news is, we do. >> thank you, my colleagues. before we take questions, i want to release a statement. this is from sundar gillibrand and myself. the reported actions of the governor were propelled --

family disturbing, inappropriate, and completely unacceptable. today's report from the new york state attorney general substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories. we commend the women for doing so. the new york state attorney general has conducted an independent, thorough, and professional investigation that found the governor violated law, had a pattern of sexually harassing current and former employees, tallied it against one of the accusers and created a hostile work environment. no elected official is above the law. the people of new york deserve better leadership in the governor's office. we continue to believe that the governor should resign. >> did you watch the governor's statement? what is your reaction?

>> i continue to believe the governor should resign. >> if he doesn't, come legislature written -- impeach him? >> i continue to believe the governor should resign. >> what will your relationship be with him going forward? >> i continue to believe that he should resign. >> on the eviction moratorium, are you going to hold a vote? >> we are focusing on two things in the senate where we can get things done. number one, we are urging the administration to pursue every area where they can extend the moratorium. we need it extended. second, we are urging the federal government to put pressure on the states to get out the money. two weeks ago, i had a press conference with housing

advocates because new york had not sent out share of money. three weeks ago, new york and south carolina were the only states that didn't send anything out. that must continue. third, we are asking the governor's and local elected officials of other states to extend the moratorium. those are the things we are doing on that issue. next. >> could you address the criticism that there is not enough money dedicated to climate provisions in the bipartisan bill? >> our goal which i believe we will achieve is to meet the president's goals on climate. 80% of the energy by 2030 will be clean. there will be a 50% reduction of carbon released into the

atmosphere. >> [indiscernible] >> we are still trying to garner all the votes we can for mr. shipman. >> are you happy with the level of cooperation -- and what is your plan to come back? >> we are working well with the republicans on amendments. obviously, you need complete support to move amendments to the floor. on the schedule, we will stay here as long as it takes to get this done. >> how do you think keeping the session on the weekends has helped moving -- >> we will stay here including weekends to get the job done. thank you, everybody.

♪ >> washington journal every day we are taking your calls live on the air. discussing issues that impact you. wednesday morning, a chief economist discusses the economic outlook, the biden administration policies and pandemic concerns. then, the results of a survey into capitol hill security. watch washington journal live at 7 a.m. eastern wednesday morning. >> wednesday, a hearing on theft of intellectual property and cyber hacking by china. watch this intelligence committee hearing live at 2:45

p.m. eastern on c-span. online, or listen on the free c-span radio app. >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government. >> schools and businesses went virtual and we powered a new reality because at media,, we are built to move you ahead. >> at today's white house briefing, jen psaki answered questions about the now expired eviction mode --