The House of Representatives is preparing to take up President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ a sweeping legislative effort designed to enact his administration’s America First agenda. Following its passage by the Senate after a marathon weekend session, the bill now faces the critical test of securing support within the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is determined to move it forward by the Fourth of July.
The Senate’s version of the bill, which passed with the help of Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote, included significant modifications to the original House version. These changes were necessitated by the budget reconciliation process, which allows the majority party to bypass the filibuster by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage to 51 votes. However, the legislation must comply with strict guidelines, including provisions that solely deal with the federal budget or national debt. The parliamentarian, a nonpartisan Senate staffer, ensured that non-germane provisions – such as those related to Medicaid cuts and transgender healthcare – were removed or modified.
Despite these changes, internal divisions within the House GOP remain a major obstacle. Speaker Mike Johnson has a tight margin of three Republicans to secure the bill’s passage, and many moderate and conservative members still have concerns about the bill’s fiscal implications, particularly the $5 trillion increase in the debt limit, compared to the House’s initial proposal of $4 trillion. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., have both expressed reservations about the bill’s financial impact and its provisions, including Medicaid cuts and funding for specific lawmakers.
Leadership has urged House Republicans to keep their concerns and negotiations private, advising against public criticism on social media, which could jeopardize the bill’s trajectory. Meanwhile, the Senate’s modifications to the bill, including the addition of a $50 billion rural hospital fund and provisions aimed at courting specific lawmakers, have raised questions about the bill’s adherence to the original framework. As House Republicans prepare for a vote, the final outcome of the bill remains uncertain, with many members concerned about its impact on the national debt and the healthcare system.