(Updates with fresh quotes from Schumer, Cramer Senate back in session)
By David Morgan and Makini Brice
WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate moved slowly on Sunday toward passing a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, held back by one Republican lawmaker who opposed speeding up a vote on the nation's biggest investment in roads and bridges in decades.
The Senate convened at noon EDT (1600 GMT) and was expected to hold two procedural votes on Sunday evening, unless Republicans and Democrats can reach an agreement on amendments to the package that was the result of months of bipartisan talks.
The legislation https://www.reuters.com/world/us/whats-us-senates-bipartisan-1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-2021-08-03 is a top priority for President Joe Biden and its passage, which remains likely after an large majority has repeatedly voted to advance, would represent a major victory for him and the group of bipartisan lawmakers who crafted it.
The legislation took an important step forward on Saturday, when 67 lawmakers including 18 Republicans voted to limit debate on the measure, comfortably surpassing a 60-vote threshold required for most legislation in the 100-seat Senate.
But unless all 100 senators consent to expedite the process, passage would have to wait until Monday or Tuesday under parliamentary rules that require legislation to move forward slowly and in stages.
"I said yesterday we could do this the easy way or the hard way," Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor. "Yesterday, it appeared that some Republicans would like the Senate to do this the hard way. In any case, we'll keep proceeding until we get this bill done."
After the Senate passes the bipartisan bill, it would go to the House of Representatives, which Democrats also control by a narrow margin.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly said she would only bring the bill to a vote after the Senate passes a separate $3.5 trillion bill providing funding to fight climate change and address home health care, which Democrats aim to push through without Republican votes using a maneuver called "reconciliation."
Lawmakers in both parties have been working toward an agreement to consider a combination of Democratic, Republican and bipartisan amendments to the $1 trillion infrastructure bill under an expedited schedule.
The effort has been held up by opposition from Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, a freshman from Tennessee who objects to fast-tracking the legislation due in part to its effect on the federal budget deficit.