Republicans successfully moved forward with President Trump’s “one big beautiful bill law” during a late-night meeting on Sunday, after making concessions to some dissenting members the previous Friday.
The bill passed the House Budget Committee by a narrow 17-16 vote, with only four members present.
Interestingly, the four committee members who had opposed the bill last Friday—Chip Roy from Texas, Ralph Norman from South Carolina, Josh Bretzin from Oklahoma, and Andrew Clyde from Georgia—switched their votes during a 10 PM meeting.
Now that it has gotten through the Budget Committee, the next step is the Rules Committee, followed by a vote on the House floor. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) aims to bring it to a vote this week.
Chairman of the Budget Committee, Geordy Arlington, mentioned to Democrats on Sunday, “Last Friday, we voted for what we voted exactly the other day.”
Norman expressed enthusiasm about the changes in a recent statement.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” represents a month of concerted effort from Republicans, perhaps marking a significant piece of Trump’s legislative agenda this year and possibly into his second term.
This extensive bill, consisting of over 1,100 pages, includes an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, measures to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime wages, increased tax credits for seniors, enhanced border security, and improved energy supply.
Last week, various House committees presented components of the large bill they’ve been assembling, which the Budget Committee then unified and marked up on Friday.
Five Republicans from Pennsylvania, including Roy, Norman, Bretzin, Clyde, and Lloyd Smucker, initially voted against moving it out of committee, resulting in a 21-16 vote.
Smucker, for his part, attributed his vote to procedural issues, while others voiced concerns over spending, highlighting the importance of earlier Medicaid work requirements than those outlined for 2029. Johnson clarified that the timeline was meant to allow for adjustments.
Following the Budget Committee, the bill might encounter opposition from Republicans in Blue States who are advocating for a higher state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, currently set at $10,000 due to the 2017 tax reforms. The initial proposal suggested a higher cap of $30,000 for individuals earning under $400,000, a change that members of the SALT Caucus deemed inadequate.
Moderate Republicans are also expressing concerns regarding Medicaid funding and proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Medicaid, which currently provides health insurance for over 70 million low-income individuals, including seniors, is a significant focus.
In general, Republicans see this “Monster Bill” as a means to advance a broad array of conservative priorities through Congress.
Here’s a rundown of what’s included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Law”:
- A permanent extension of individual income tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act along with some modifications.
- No taxes on tips, payment for overtime hours, and temporary removal of taxes on car loan interest.
- An additional $4,000 deduction for seniors instead of taxing Social Security (with procedural justifications provided for not taxing Social Security).
- Increased SALT deduction cap.
- An increase of $4 trillion to the debt limit, which is anticipated to become a pressing issue after July or August if Congress doesn’t act.
- $175 billion for border security, including $46.5 billion allocated for the construction of walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Additional defense funding totaling $150 billion, featuring $25 billion for a missile defense system, $34 billion for naval capabilities, and $21 billion to replenish ammunition stocks.
- Mandatory work requirements for healthy adults aged 19-64 registered with Medicaid, with volunteer jobs and schooling counting toward these requirements.
- States that expand affordable care laws relating to Medicaid will face reduced reimbursement rates for illegal immigrant care.
- States with high SNAP error rates will be required to contribute to the program costs, a shift from previous federal coverage.
- $10 million investment or 1% of project costs necessary to set up high-speed transport for natural gas.
- A measure to gradually eliminate electric vehicle mandates established during the Biden administration.
- Snap work requirements will extend to healthy adults up to age 64.
- A “Growth and Progress Account” will be introduced for parents contributing $1,000 per child born between 2024 and 2028.
- Funding limitations on large abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.
- Restrictions on Medicaid funding for certain medical procedures.
- Elimination of the $200 tax on gun silencers.
- Up to 21% tax on certain college donations.
- A new structure for student loan payments featuring both a standard program and a repayment assistance program.
- Rollback of significant parts of the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Updates to air traffic control systems.
Speaker Johnson noted on “Fox News Sunday” that “This is probably the biggest spending cut in at least 30 years, and it’s historic.”
Prior to the adjustments made by the Budget Committee, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was anticipated to surpass the GOP’s goal of cutting over $1.5 trillion in spending within a decade. Nevertheless, projections indicated it might add approximately $3.3 trillion to the national debt, largely due to unpaid tax provisions, according to estimates from the Responsible Federal Budget Committee before Sunday’s markup.
If the bill passes the House, Republicans plan to navigate it through the Senate using a process designed to avoid democratic filibusters.
The Senate, however, is home to only 53 Republicans.
This settlement process may face scrutiny, with senators able to challenge provisions deemed inconsistent with the rules.
A significant hurdle for the Senate remains the skepticism from key senators like Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who have raised questions about the evolving bill.
