House Delivers “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” Now Awaits President’s Sign-Off
The U.S. House of Representatives concluded a dramatic pre-dawn session Thursday with the passage of President Donald Trump’s extensive $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill by a vote of 218-214. The legislation now proceeds to the President’s desk for signing, marking a significant victory for the administration and House Republicans.
The vote followed an unusual and protracted debate that saw House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) deliver a record-breaking speech. Jeffries’s address, which lasted 8 hours and 44 minutes, temporarily stalled the bill’s advancement and was used to articulate the Democratic opposition to the legislation.
READ: Johnson To Jeffries: “It Takes A Lot Longer To Build A Lie Than To Tell The Simple Truth”
Jeffries’s lengthy remarks included numerous references to the New Testament, particularly drawing from Matthew 25, which focuses on compassion and aiding those in need. He criticized the bill’s perceived impact on government programs, arguing it would divert funds from services like Medicaid and SNAP to finance tax cuts.
He also commented on what he described as hypocritical stances, stating, “Got some folks in this town, they go to church and they pray on Sunday. P-R-A-Y. And then they come to Congress and they prey, P-R-E-Y, on the American people. I’m not down with that kind of faith.”
Following Jeffries’s extended address, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) delivered his own remarks, acknowledging the delay and underscoring the Republican Party’s determination to pass the bill. Johnson began by referencing Ronald Reagan’s preference for shorter speeches, drawing a contrast with Jeffries’s lengthy address.
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“We’ve waited long enough. Some of us have literally been up for days now,” Johnson stated, highlighting the extensive effort behind the legislation. He described the day as “a hugely important one in the history of our nation,” focused on a “big job to finish.” Johnson attributed the bill’s creation to the “America First agenda” and acknowledged the contributions of House Republicans, staff, and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Johnson also highlighted the significance of the November 2024 election, portraying it as a clear mandate from the American people that resulted in a “unified Government.” He asserted that the election results reflected a “demographic shift” with increased support for the Republican Party from various voter groups.
Speaker Johnson detailed what he presented as positive achievements under the current administration, which he connected to the “America First” platform. He listed several recent developments:
- Multiple jobs reports exceeding expectations.
- Reduced border encounters.
- A new trade deal with Vietnam.
- The University of Pennsylvania’s decision to ban biological men from women’s sports.
- Lower gas prices.
- Early recruitment goal achievements for the Air Force and Space Force.
- A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
- A successful strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
- Increased defense spending by NATO countries.
- A peace deal between Rwanda and Congo.
- Supreme Court decisions ending nationwide injunctions and allowing third-country deportations.
- A high stock market.
- Progress on a China trade deal.
Johnson positioned the now-passed bill as a fulfillment of promises to the American people. He outlined key provisions, including tax cuts for working and middle-class Americans, efforts to control spending, initiatives for energy independence, measures to secure the border, and support for a strong military. He stated that the bill aims to provide “real positive change” for families, emphasizing provisions like allowing service workers to keep 100% of their tips and enabling small businesses to write off 100% of investments. He also addressed safety nets like Medicaid and SNAP, stating that reforms would ensure they are “made these safety nets stronger” while incorporating “modest Common Sense work requirements.”
Concluding his remarks, Speaker Johnson reiterated that the bill’s passage would lay a “sturdy foundation for the future of this country,” where “working Americans can feel relief, where government can finally start living within its means again, and where the United States is safer, stronger, and more prosperous than ever before.” The 218-214 vote sends the legislation directly to the President’s desk for enactment.
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