President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill successfully passed a critical House vote on Thursday, with a narrow margin of 218-214, just one day before the Fourth of July deadline. Earlier that day, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed the voting process by delivering an extensive speech that lasted more than eight hours, where he articulated strong opposition to the bill.
“We have a big job to finish,” stated House Speaker Mike Johnson. “With one big beautiful bill, we will make this country stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever.”
Who Voted Against the Bill?
The two Republicans who broke party lines to vote against the Big Beautiful Bill were Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. Massie, who had opposed the bill’s initial version in May, joined Fitzpatrick in opposing Trump’s spending and tax proposals.
Democrats united in their opposition to the bill. Jeffries began his speech at 4:53 AM EDT and concluded at 1:37 PM EDT, making it a record-breaking 8 hours and 44 minutes. Throughout his address, he labeled Trump’s legislation as the “big ugly bill.”
“We’re better than this,” Jeffries asserted, using his prerogative for unlimited debate to share letters from constituents who expressed their dependence on health care programs. “I never thought I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” he emphasized. “It’s a crime scene targeting the health, safety, and well-being of the American people.”
As Democrats expressed their unified rejection, Jeffries remarked, “We want no part of it.”
The Senate had previously passed the package, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The slim Republican majority in the House left little room for defections.
