The U.S. House of Representatives has met its deadline for President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ by making technical corrections to the proposal, which will now be reviewed by the Senate. The House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, has incorporated necessary adjustments to ensure the bill complies with Senate budget rules. These changes are expected to streamline the legislative process as the bill moves to the Senate, where Republicans are preparing to conduct a Byrd Bath review.
The Byrd Bath process, named after the late Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd, allows the Senate to exclude provisions that do not meet the special budget reconciliation rules. This step is crucial to avoid a filibuster, which could delay or prevent the bill’s passage. Senate Republicans, under the guidance of Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, are assessing which parts of the House bill require revision before it can face a full vote in the Senate.
Speaker Johnson defended the House’s approach, stating, ‘I think it’s going to be nothing that was unexpected. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.’ He emphasized the difficulty in achieving the ‘balance’ of the bill, which took extensive efforts to draft. However, the House’s focus remains on ensuring the bill’s alignment with Senate procedures to facilitate a smooth legislative process. The Senate’s upcoming review is expected to determine the final shape of the spending bill before it proceeds to a vote, marking a pivotal moment in the legislative timeline for Trump’s proposal.