The House Rules Committee advanced the GOP’s bill centered around President Trump’s legislative priorities late Wednesday night, setting the stage for a critical vote on the House floor. This decision followed a lengthy committee meeting that lasted nearly 22 hours, emphasizing the urgency and complexity of the legislation. The panel voted 8-4 to move forward with the measure, officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which underwent several last-minute modifications aimed at satisfying both blue-state moderates and hardline conservatives.
These last-minute adjustments came after intense closed-door negotiations with various factions within the GOP, reflecting the ongoing struggle to unite the party around this significant piece of legislation. The updates were introduced in the form of a manager’s amendment approximately 20 hours into the Rules Committee meeting, highlighting the delicate balance of negotiations that are still in progress.
Key changes to the bill include raising the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000 for individuals earning less than $500,000. Additionally, the bill imposes enhanced Medicaid work requirements that must be implemented “no later than December 31, 2026.” Moreover, there are multiple revisions to the energy and environmental provisions, pivotal in garnering wider support within the party.
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" is now headed to the House floor, where all members will engage in a debate over its provisions. The aim is to secure a vote and pass the legislation out of the lower chamber, ultimately sending it to the Senate by Memorial Day. This bill is crucial as it extends the tax cuts that President Trump enacted in 2017, alongside significant changes to energy policy, alterations to Medicaid, and a proposed $4 trillion increase in the debt limit.
House leaders initiated the committee meeting shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, a strategic move to expedite the bill's progress through the House. This timing was influenced by the need to balance House rules and a late-night Budget Committee vote on Sunday that had previously advanced the bill, overcoming obstacles posed by hardline conservatives.
Despite the strategic timing, the meeting faced criticism from Democrats. House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) questioned the need for a late-night hearing, asking, “If Republicans are so proud of what is in this bill, then why are you trying to ram it through in the dead of the night?” In contrast, House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) defended the meeting’s schedule, emphasizing the extensive work House Republicans have invested in crafting the bill over recent months.
In an effort to consolidate support, President Trump met with House Republicans on Tuesday morning, urging them to unite behind the legislation and encouraging them to ease their demands. He also convened with members of the House Freedom Caucus and other GOP leaders on Wednesday afternoon to discuss final amendments to the bill, underscoring the collaborative effort required to advance this significant legislative initiative.
As the House prepares for what could be a historic vote, all eyes are on the upcoming debate and the potential implications of the bill for both the GOP and the broader American electorate.
