Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has reached an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on a sweeping voting rights bill.
“I’m pleased to report that Senator Manchin and I have come to an agreement. He came to my office, oh, about two hours ago, and we worked it out. Senator Manchin has informed me that he will vote yes on the motion to proceed to debate the legislation,” Schumer told reporters on Tuesday.
He continued, “I have committed to him that if our Republican colleagues don’t obstruct and allow us to move forward on the debate, we’ll take up his proposed substitute amendment as the first amendment we will consider.”
Watch his remarks below:
Chuck Schumer announces that Joe Manchin will support a motion to proceed on Democrats’ voting rights bill, meaning the legislation will likely receive 50 votes but is unlikely to receive the 60 votes needed to proceed. pic.twitter.com/S74OLcs2sJ
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) June 22, 2021
Manchin released a statement following his meeting with Schumer.
“Over the past month, I have worked to eliminate the far reaching provisions of S.1, the For the People Act – which I do not support. I’ve found common ground with my Democratic colleagues on a new version of the bill that ensures our elections are fair, accessible and secure,” Manchin said.
He continued, “Today I will vote ‘YES’ to move to debate this updated voting legislation as a substitute amendment to ensure every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot and participate in our great democracy.”
Read his statement below:
Manchin releases a statement moments after Schumer announces he will vote with all Democrats to begin debate on S1:
— Julie Tsirkin (@JulieNBCNews) June 22, 2021
“I’ve found common ground with my Democratic colleagues on a new version of the bill…” pic.twitter.com/NOBI8CGfPB
Manchin previously expressed concerns with the For the People Act, specifically the issue of passing partisan voting legislation, as CBS News reports.
“People were assuming that I was against S. 1, because there was no Republicans supporting it. That’s not the case at all,” Manchin said.
He added, “I said basically, you should not pass any type of a voter bill in the most divisive time of our life unless you have some unity on this thing, because you just divide the country further.”
Republicans are expected to block the bill.
As CNN notes, Tuesday’s vote is a procedural motion on whether debate on the legislation will begin. In order for it to succeed, it needs 60 votes.