Senate Holds Overnight Session as Deliberations Continue on Trump’s Sweeping Legislative Package

The U.S. Senate has entered an overnight session to deliberate President Trump’s extensive legislative package, aptly dubbed the "Big, Beautiful Bill." This 940-page bill encompasses a variety of significant policy changes, including substantial tax cuts and reductions in healthcare and food assistance programs . The Congressional Budget Office projects that the legislation could increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade while leaving approximately 11.8 million Americans without health insurance by 2034 . Despite these alarming estimates, Senate Republicans are pushing to meet Trump's July 4 deadline for passage.

At least two senators in their ranks, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky, have said they will not vote for it. With Democrats uniformly opposed to the bill, G.O.P. leaders could afford to lose only one more Republican in the closely divided Senate, and even then would need to call in Vice President JD Vance to cast a tiebreaking vote.

Four defectors would be enough for the bill not to pass.

But at least a half-dozen Republican senators were still undecided on Monday, and several issues that could make or break their decisions had not been resolved.

In the Senate, Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski – who GOP leadership had to convince to advance the legislation over the weekend – crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats on several amendments affecting the bill’s SNAP and Medicaid provisions, as well as to shore up support for rural hospitals. The proposed changes were ultimately unsuccessful, but underscore the flashpoints within the Republican Party.

GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine offered an amendment during the vote-a-rama aimed at raising more money for rural health care providers, a move that comes as changes to Medicaid’s provider taxes in the bill have been contentious for the GOP.

The funds for this would come from increasing taxes on those who make more than $25 million annually, or couples who make more than $50 million. The Senate ultimately took a procedural vote on the amendment, rather than voting on the amendment itself, and it failed to advance.

In a recent procedural vote, the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly advanced the bill with a tally of 51-49 . This advancement occurred despite opposition from two Republican senators and all Democrats who have voiced concerns about potential cuts to essential services such as Medicare and Clean Energy programs . As deliberations continue through the night, it is evident that this legislative effort has polarized lawmakers and raised critical questions about its long-term implications for American society.

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Sara H

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