The House on July 2 started debating President Donald Trump’s legislative package of tax reductions and Medicaid cuts, as Republican leaders determine whether they can chart a path to victory with narrow majorities in Congress.
Trump has been urging lawmakers to send him the bill to sign into law by July 4 but also acknowledged the timeline is flexible. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and other leaders said in a joint statement they would “work quickly” to meet their self-imposed deadline by approving the Senate version, which Vice President JD Vance pushed across the finish line with a tie-breaking vote July 1.
“Republicans were elected to do exactly what this bill achieves: secure the border, make tax cuts permanent, unleash American energy dominance, restore peace through strength, cut wasteful spending, and return to a government that puts Americans first,” the GOP leadership statement said.
But the path is narrow enough that changes are still possible. The House approved its initial version of the bill on a 215-214 vote in May. After four days of marathon debate and voting, the Senate approved its version in a 51-50 vote July 1, with three Republicans voting no and Vance breaking the tie.
Multiple House Republicans who supported their version of the bill – including Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland and Ralph Norman of South Carolina – said they oppose the Senate version. Harris and Norman are members of the House Freedom Caucus, which aims to cut federal spending.
A wavering Republican who voted yes, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said the House should recognize “we’re not there yet” and make improvements before sending it back to the Senate.
“Because we have two options here, right? Kill it and it’s gone,” Murkowski said.
Here’s what we know about the bill:
