'The best legislation is always bipartisan': Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney

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After President Biden signed his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package into law this week without GOP support, the first major legislative win of his presidency, lawmakers are considering what will be next.

Infrastructure is a major priority for the Biden administration, and one that could potentially generate bipartisan support, something Biden has emphasized in the past but has failed to secure during his first seven weeks in office.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney told Yahoo Finance “the best legislation is always bipartisan” and she’s confident Biden will be able to secure support from Republicans to advance his agenda.

“We need an infrastructure package. I believe Republicans across the country are going to support it. Every American knows that we need to invest in our infrastructure for our productivity, for our economy. And it creates good jobs," she said. "We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We now have a crumbling one. We need to invest in it.”

President Joe Biden speaks about the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, March 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Joe Biden speaks about the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, March 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The resistance from the GOP during Biden’s first 50 days in office isn’t anything he hasn’t seen before. While he was vice president, the GOP opposed a number of items on former President Obama’s agenda, oftentimes making it impossible for that administration to get legislation through Congress.

That experience will likely prove to be instrumental over the next four years. Maloney said Biden still wants bipartisanship, and he will continue to work across the aisle with Republicans “because that’s who he is.”

“If anyone can lead us in that direction, President Biden can. He's friends with everybody. He's worked in this institution, in this government on many different levels his whole life. And he's very well liked,” said Maloney. “He has a history of working across the aisle. He knows how to do it. He's respected. He's honest. He wants to, but you can't do it alone.”

Seana Smith anchors Yahoo Finance Live’s 3-5 p.m. ET program. Follow her on Twitter @SeanaNSmith

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