NEWS ALERT: Republicans advance Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in unusual late-night vote

May 19, 2025

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From The Hill: Republican deficit hawks allowed President Trump’s bill of legislative priorities to advance out of the House Budget Committee in an unusual late-night vote on Sunday, marking a key hurdle cleared for House GOP leaders and a sign of progress for warring Republican factions

After gaveling in after 10 p.m. on Sunday, the committee voted 17-16 to advance the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which would extend Trump’s tax cuts and boost his border funding priorities while reforming Medicaid and food assistance programs.

The four Republican holdouts who had tanked the vote on Friday — Reps. Ralph Norman (S.C.), Chip Roy (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), and Josh Brecheen (Okla.) — voted present to allow the bill to go forward, with Roy revealing that there was progress on moving up the start date for new Medicaid work requirements and speeding up the phase-out of green energy incentives.

In a sign of the high-stakes nature of the vote, the Speaker as well as White House Legislative Affairs Director James Braid made appearances off a room to the side of the late night Budget Committee affair.

House Budget Committee APPROVES GOP Tax & Spending Bill, 17-16-4. pic.twitter.com/iOsRn7kPvd

— CSPAN (@cspan) May 19, 2025

Rep. Roy posted the following statement after the bill was advanced out of committee Sunday night:

Tonight, after a great deal of work and engagement over the weekend, the Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation bill that lays the foundation for much needed tax relief, border security, and important spending reductions and reforms. Importantly the bill now will move Medicaid work requirements forward and reduces the availability of future subsidies under the green new scam.

But, the bill does not yet meet the moment – leaving almost half of the green new scam subsidies continuing. More, it fails to end the Medicaid money laundering scam and perverse funding structure that provides seven times more federal dollars for each dollar of state spending for the able-bodied relative to the vulnerable. This all ultimately increases the likelihood of continuing deficits and non-Obamacare-expansion states like Texas expanding in the future. We can and must do better before we pass the final product.

As such, I joined with 3 of my colleagues to vote “present” out of respect for the Republican Conference and the President to move the bill forward. It gives us the opportunity to work together this week to get the job done in light of the fact our bond rating was dropped yet again due to historic fiscal mismanagement by both parties. This bill is a strong step forward – and I am proud of Chairman Arrington, the Speaker, and my colleagues for the work we did to make progress with the White House. But we have to do more to deliver for the American people.

Tonight, after a great deal of work and engagement over the weekend, the Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation bill that lays the foundation for much needed tax relief, border security, and important spending reductions and reforms. Importantly the bill now will move…

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) May 19, 2025

Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) announced:

Three of my colleagues and I just voted “present” on the One Big Beautiful Bill to ensure it advanced out of the Budget Committee—honoring the progress we made this weekend, while still recognizing there is work to be done.

I’m grateful to President Trump and his team for giving us the runway to strengthen his commitment to ending the Green New Scam—especially when it comes to wind and solar subsidies.

Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Chairman Arrington, Chairman Smith, and their teams worked around the clock with us this weekend to address our concerns. We made progress regarding wind and solar subsidy repeals and welfare work requirements for the able-bodied to ensure that meaningful reform takes place during President Trump’s term in office, not after, as was previously drafted.

Some numbers and policies in our One Big Beautiful Bill still require tweaking, and we look forward to working with the White House and leadership to resolve these issues in the next few days.

Three of my colleagues and I just voted “present” on the One Big Beautiful Bill to ensure it advanced out of the Budget Committee—honoring the progress we made this weekend, while still recognizing there is work to be done.

I’m grateful to President Trump and his team for…

— Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) May 19, 2025

Earlier on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson had announced:

We are working around the clock to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It’s a once in a generation opportunity to deliver tangible relief for the American people:
– Historic tax relief
– Largest investment in border security in a generation
– Historic spending cuts
– Restoring American energy dominance
– And strengthening Medicaid and SNAP for the Americans who need and deserve them

We are working around the clock to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It’s a once in a generation opportunity to deliver tangible relief for the American people:
– Historic tax relief
– Largest investment in border security in a generation
– Historic spending… pic.twitter.com/eDlModQZMq

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 18, 2025