McConnell, Schumer reach organizing resolution in 50-50 split of Senate

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have reached a deal on the organizing resolution for running an evenly divided Senate, Schumer announced Wednesday morning from the Senate floor. 

"We will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels," the New York lawmaker said, according to news reports.

"I am happy to report this morning that the leadership of both parties have finalized the organizing resolution for the Senate. We will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels," continued Schumer. 

The agreement will allow a system for which the parties can appoint committee leaders in the 50-50 Senate.

Some Senate business, such a continued hearings for Biden administration nominees has been relatively stalled this week due to uncertainty about committee chairmanships that should now be resolved with the power-sharing agreement. 

In January, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell incorporated language into his power-sharing proposal that would commit his Democratic colleagues to preserving the 60-vote filibuster. McConnell agreed to remove thee language after Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona confirmed that they would not support eliminating the filibuster in order to pass major Democratic legislative packages.