‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Clears Senate Hurdle Amid Republican Defections

The Senate is in the midst of up to 20 hours of floor debate on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act after Senate Democrats had clerks read the entire 940-page bill aloud for 16 hours starting Saturday night.  

Senate Republicans managed to advance the bill Saturday evening despite a three-hour voting standstill as holdout senators negotiated with their colleagues both on and off the floor. Vice President JD Vance was present at the U.S. Capitol Saturday, ready to break a tie if needed. In the end, the vote was a razor thin 51-49.

Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., were the only Republicans to vote against the Big Beautiful Bill, along with all Senate Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had clerks read the entire bill last night, stating on X:

“I objected to stop Republicans moving forward on their Big, Ugly Bill until they read every single word of it to the American people. They are scrambling to pass their radical bill, released in the dead of night, praying Americans don’t realize what’s in it.”

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, emphasized the impact passing the bill could have on Americans.

“‘Last night, I voted to deliver on @POTUS’ America First agenda by advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will prevent a massive tax increase on Texas families, help secure our southern border, strengthen the 2nd Amendment, & start our country on a path toward fiscal sanity. Let’s get it done!’” said Cornyn on X Sunday morning.

President Donald Trump has requested the bill be on his desk by July 4. The Senate must still take a final vote on the bill and the House must still approve the Senate’s changes before the president receives it.

On Sunday morning, hours after Trump said he was going to support a primary challenge against Tillis because of his no vote on the bill, the North Carolina senator announced he would not run for reelection.