WASHINGTON (TNND) — Senate Republicans narrowly approved Tuesday to pass President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” with Vice President JD Vance being the tie-breaking vote.
Senators convened at 9 a.m. on Monday for a “vote-a-rama” that lasted all night, providing an opportunity for Republicans to secure support for Trump while Democrats worked to defeat the budget bill.
The budget bill must now pass the House before heading to Trump’s desk to be signed ahead of his self-proclaimed Fourth of July deadline.
“The House will work quickly to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill that enacts President Trump’s full America First agenda by the Fourth of July. The American people gave us a clear mandate, and after four years of Democrat failure, we intend to deliver without delay,” House GOP leaders said in a statement after the Senate vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke on the Senate floor, emphasizing the long journey to reach passage and expressing gratitude to committee members and the chairman for their hard work in crafting the legislation.
“Since we regained the majority in January, our Republican team has been laser-focused on achieving the mission before us today,” Thune said. “Now we’re here – passing legislation that will make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
Three Republican senators — Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined all Democrats in voting against it.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it the “BIG, UGLY BETRAYAL,” saying that “Republicans passed the biggest tax breaks for billionaires ever seen.”
“Paid for by ripping healthcare from millions of people and taking food away from the mouths of hungry kids,” he added.
Additionally, the bill would provide a $350 billion infusion for border and national security, including for deportations, some of it paid for with new fees charged to immigrants.
Thune told reporters at around 4:30 a.m. “we’re close,” adding they still have “a few amendment votes” until final passage.
By Tuesday morning, Republican senators had adopted three amendments to the bill, according to CNN.
- Sen. Joni Ernst offered an amendment to bar federal funding from being used by unemployment benefits for people whose wages are at least $1 trillion
- An amendment from Sen. Marsha Blackburn strikes language from the bill that would have blocked state and local governments from enforcing their own artificial intelligence regulations for 10 years
- Sen. John Kennedy introduced an amendment to move up the eligibility verification requirement for Medicaid by one year
In a midnight post on Truth Social, the president urged senators on by calling the bill “perhaps the greatest and most important of its kind.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled more potential problems ahead, warning the Senate package could run into trouble when it is sent back to the House for a final round of voting.
However, not all GOP lawmakers appear to be on board as the final package emerges in the House and Senate.
Over the weekend, Trump lashed out against the holdouts, even threatening to campaign against one Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had said he could not support the bill because of Medicaid cuts that could leave many in his state without health care.
Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes raising the debt limit by $5 trillion, also indicated opposition.
On Sunday, Tillis said he would not be seeking reelection, vacating a seat that creates a political opportunity for Democrats in the 2026 midterm election. Currently, Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
