House Republican leaders are working hard to gather support for President Trump’s significant domestic policy bill amidst resistance to the Senate’s modifications. The GOP is aiming to finalize the legislation before a July 4 deadline and get it to the president’s desk. As the House convened to address the bill, uncertainty loomed over whether there is enough backing from Republicans to push it through. A crucial procedural vote needs to be taken before final approval, but the timing and outcome of this vote are uncertain, as lawmakers faced delays due to weather-related flight disruptions.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise indicated that plans were in place for the procedural vote later in the day, pending the arrival of members whose travel was impacted. Several lawmakers from both parties experienced flight cancellations or delays, with Democrats mostly present for proceedings by Wednesday afternoon. With the GOP only able to afford three defections considering a full turnout, efforts are being made to expedite the legislation, a centerpiece of President Trump’s second-term agenda.
However, some House Republicans, who supported an earlier version of the bill in May, expressed dissatisfaction with the Senate’s adjustments. Potential dissenters, including moderates and members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, engaged in discussions with President Trump to address concerns and garner support for the bill’s passage. Although some lawmakers characterized the meeting as productive, GOP Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland anticipated the procedural vote’s failure.
The House Rules Committee moved forward with the Senate’s alterations to the bill, leading to its consideration on the House floor. Representatives Norman and Roy, aligned with the faction likely to oppose the procedural vote, objected to the rule changes in the committee. Norman criticized the Senate’s changes as unacceptable and vowed to vote against them, emphasizing the importance of getting the bill right before his decision.
After meeting with President Trump and fellow House Republicans, Norman acknowledged progress but remained undecided on his stance, emphasizing the need for clarity on the bill’s implementation. House Speaker Mike Johnson had advocated against significant alterations by the Senate, expressing disappointment with the extent of changes made. The Senate version includes deeper Medicaid cuts, a larger debt limit increase, and revisions to green energy policies and state and local tax deductions from the House bill.
After facing resistance in both chambers, several contentious provisions in a Senate bill were removed, such as the sale of public lands in multiple states, a 10-year pause on states regulating artificial intelligence, and an excise tax on the renewable energy sector. Senator Johnson mentioned that efforts were being made to address concerns and secure the necessary votes, emphasizing that the goal was to present the best possible legislation. He expressed confidence in the progress made so far and the potential outcome.
On the other hand, Senator Harris suggested that the President should call the Senate back to negotiate changes to the bill, but GOP leaders indicated that the House would vote on the Senate version without modifications. Any alterations made by the House would need Senate approval or require a conference committee to reconcile differences, potentially delaying the bill’s passage.
Representative Dusty Johnson shared optimism following discussions with reluctant members, praising President Trump’s negotiation skills and noting a positive shift towards supporting the bill. Amidst calls from Trump for the GOP to finalize the bill, Representative Foxx urged House Republicans to complete their part swiftly.
In contrast, House Democrats strongly opposed the bill, labeling it a betrayal of the American people. They vowed to vigorously oppose it and called for bipartisan support to thwart its passage. Democratic leaders singled out specific Republicans and emphasized their commitment to stopping the bill.
