Friday, May 23, 2025 - US House Republicans on Thursday, May 22, narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative package, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” with a 215-214 vote after a tense 48-hour push to unite fiscal conservatives and moderates.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where further debate is
expected over spending cuts and Medicaid reforms.
House Speaker, Mike Johnson called the bill the most
consequential legislation passed under such a slim majority, declaring, “It
quite literally is, again, morning in America.”
Two Republicans—Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of
Kentucky—voted against the bill alongside all 212 Democrats. Rep. Andy Harris
of Maryland, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, voted “present.” Harris and
Texas Rep. Chip Roy led a last-minute effort to derail the bill, forcing a
White House meeting with Trump.
According to Johnson, the talks led to handshake agreements
on future executive actions and legislative adjustments
The final version of the bill includes an extension of Trump’s 2017 tax
cuts and eliminates federal taxes on qualified tips, overtime pay, and car loan
interest payments.
A major concession to moderate Republicans was raising the state and local
tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married
individuals filing separately, with income thresholds of $500,000 and $250,000
respectively.
Changes in the final “Manager’s Amendment” included moving up Medicaid
work requirements to no later than December 31, 2026, and ending tax credits
for wind, solar, and battery storage projects built after 60 days from
enactment or going online after December 31, 2028.
Johnson revealed the GOP would have secured 217 votes if not for Rep.
David Schweikert missing the vote and Rep. Andrew Garbarino allegedly falling
asleep. “I’m going to just strangle him,” Johnson joked. “But he’s my dear
friend.”
Garbarino played a key role in brokering the SALT deal but opposed some
green energy cuts sought by conservatives.
Key provisions of the bill
include:
• Raising the SALT deduction cap
to $20,000 for married individuals filing separately and $40,000 for others,
based on income limits.
• Raising the debt ceiling by $4
trillion.
• Allocating $175 billion to
border security, including $46.5 billion for wall construction.
• Providing $150 billion in
defense funding, including $25 billion for a space-based missile defense
system, and additional funds for shipbuilding and ammunition stockpiles.
• Imposing an 80-hour-per-month
work requirement for able-bodied adults aged 19 to 64 to receive Medicaid.
• Expanding SNAP work
requirements for childless adults through age 64.
• Creating a fast-track
permitting process for natural gas projects.
• Ending the requirement that
two-thirds of new car sales be electric by 2032.
• Establishing $1,000 “Trump”
savings accounts for children born between 2025 and 2029.
Trump praised the bill’s passage on Truth Social, congratulating Speaker
Johnson and Republican leadership. “Now, it’s time for our friends in the
Senate to get to work and send this bill to my desk as soon as possible,” he
wrote.
He also took aim at Democrats, accusing them of being out of touch with
voters and committed to policies that “will never again happen.”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill from
the floor, highlighting its tax cuts and Medicaid rollbacks. Speaker Johnson
responded by praising Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx for managing hundreds
of Democratic amendments and ensuring the bill reached a vote.
The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where moderate
Republicans and Democrats will likely demand changes before it reaches the
president’s desk.
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