US House Narrowly Passes Major Legislative Bill Backed By Trump

On Thursday, May 22, House Republicans narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s extensive legislative package, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” in a 215-214 vote following a tense 48-hour effort to bridge divisions between fiscal conservatives and moderates.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where debates are anticipated over spending cuts and Medicaid reforms.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described it as the most significant legislation passed under such a narrow majority, stating, “It quite literally is, again, morning in America.” 🇺🇸

Two Republicans—Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky—joined all 212 Democrats in voting against it, while Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, voted “present.” Harris and Texas Rep. Chip Roy led a last-minute attempt to block the bill, prompting a White House meeting with Trump.

According to Johnson, the negotiations resulted in handshake agreements on future executive actions and legislative revisions.

The final version of the bill extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and eliminates federal taxes on qualified tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest.

As a key concession to moderate Republicans, the bill raises the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married individuals filing separately, with income limits of $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

Updates in the final “Manager’s Amendment” include accelerating Medicaid work requirements to begin no later than December 31, 2026, and ending tax credits for wind, solar, and battery storage projects either constructed after 60 days from enactment or brought online after December 31, 2028.

Johnson noted that the GOP would have secured 217 votes if Rep. David Schweikert had not missed the vote and Rep. Andrew Garbarino had not allegedly fallen asleep.

“I’m going to just strangle him,” Johnson joked. “But he’s my dear friend.”

Garbarino was instrumental in negotiating the SALT deal but disagreed with certain green energy cuts pushed 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 celebrated the bill’s passage on Truth Social, extending his congratulations to Speaker Johnson and the 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.