President Donald Trump’s $3.3 trillion legislative proposal, known as the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ has set a new record for the longest procedural vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate-amended version of the bill required over seven hours of debate, surpassing the previous record of seven hours and six minutes set in 2021. This extended voting period highlights the intense political maneuvering as House Speaker Mike Johnson seeks to pass the legislation before Independence Day.
The bill faced significant opposition from members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who raised concerns over its projected impact on the federal deficit, insufficient Medicaid reforms, and the inclusion of green energy tax credits. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, criticized the revisions that reintroduced green energy tax credits despite House efforts to roll back such programs. The Democratic opposition, united in their dissent, has left the bill’s fate in the hands of a few Republican holdouts.
Following the overnight session, Johnson expressed his determination to secure the Senate-amended bill’s passage and send it to the president’s desk by the Independence Day deadline. Lawmakers voted to proceed with debate on the Trump agenda bill in the early hours of Thursday, setting up for a final House-wide vote later that morning. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., noted that moderate Republicans also had questions about the bill’s implementation, emphasizing the need for clarity on how the proposed changes would be executed.
The Senate passed the ‘big, beautiful bill’ by a razor-thin, 51-50 margin last week, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. This narrow approval underscores the delicate balance of power in the Senate and the intense political dynamics surrounding the legislation. As the House debates the bill, the outcome could have significant implications for U.S. fiscal policy and the broader political landscape, shaping the nation’s future for years to come.