Republican leaders in the House have pushed back a crucial vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as they continue working to line up enough GOP support to overcome internal resistance and absences.
One of the final procedural votes scheduled for Wednesday afternoon remained open for over an hour, as House leaders made efforts behind the scenes to persuade reluctant Republicans, according to The Hill. Eventually, lawmakers were instructed to head back to their offices.
The revised version of the legislation, amended in the Senate, has sparked considerable controversy within the GOP ranks. The bill narrowly advanced there on Tuesday only after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. President Donald Trump has made it clear he expects the bill—widely viewed as the hallmark of his second term—on his desk by Independence Day. “I want the bill on my desk by the Fourth of July,” he said.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus and other conservatives were seen moving in and out of a room near the House floor during the procedural votes, as reported by The Hill. Many had indicated they would oppose the rule that governs how the bill would be debated. Had that vote failed, it would have halted all progress on the House floor.
Lawmakers such as Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, as well as Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Eli Crane of Arizona, Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania, and Andy Biggs of Arizona, were spotted entering the meeting room at various intervals.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana explained to reporters that several Republicans were still en route to the Capitol due to widespread flight delays caused by inclement weather, according to The Hill. He noted that once those lawmakers arrived, the vote would continue.

{Matzav.com}