House Republicans successfully pushed through President Donald Trump’s sweeping $4.5 trillion legislative package on Thursday, securing final approval for a sprawling combination of tax reductions and spending cuts just in time for the July 4 deadline the president had set for himself.
The vote, which narrowly passed by a margin of 218-214, saw two Republican lawmakers break ranks to side with the unified Democratic opposition. Overnight negotiations and last-minute calls from President Trump himself persuaded several hesitant GOP members to shift their stance and clear the way for the legislation to reach his desk.
This marks a major legislative victory for both the president and congressional Republicans, as they managed to bundle a wide range of conservative goals into what they dubbed “one big beautiful bill,” a massive piece of legislation spanning over 800 pages. With no support from Democrats, the measure is now set to become a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda as he reasserts leadership with full Republican control of the legislative branch.
Clocking in at 887 pages, the bill combines numerous initiatives: tax cuts, significant reductions in federal spending, the removal of incentives for solar energy projects, increased funding for defense, and expanded deportation programs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the legislation in strong terms, saying it would “make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before,” while Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries mounted a marathon speech lasting 8 hours and 44 minutes, declaring it “a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”
{Matzav.com}