The US House of Representatives prepares to debate Trump's fiscal and immigration plan with Senate modifications

The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on President Donald Trump's fiscal and immigration bill, known as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, after its approval by the Senate in a close session this Tuesday, when the measure advanced only after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

The House Rules Committee quickly took the initiative on Tuesday afternoon with the aim of that the regulations can be debated in the plenary as early as Wednesday morning. However, the definitive progress of the text depends on the ability of the Republican leadership to garner support among the Republican Party's own legislators, especially those critical of the adjustments introduced by the Senate regarding the bill that the House approved in May. The text approved by the Senate contemplates deeper cuts to the Medicaid health program, which generates resistance among moderate congressmen, while the increase in the overall cost of the law worries the most conservative wing of the party. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) calculates that the Senate bill would increase federal deficits by $3.3 trillion in the next decade. The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (Republican from Louisiana), told the press that "there is still work to be done, but it will be achieved," insisting on the commitment to reach an agreement before July 4. The leader of the Republican majority, Tom Emmer (Minnesota), confirmed that the lower house will vote on the exact version approved by the Senate. If there are new modifications, the text would return to the Senate, which could delay the final enactment. Donald Trump has warned that he will back primary challenges against Republican congressmen who vote against the initiative. In this scenario, internal pressure is notable. Texas Congressman Chip Roy, a critical member of the Rules Committee, expressed his opposition to the Senate version despite having supported the previous House text, and doubted that the deadline set for Friday could be met due to recent negotiations. Also Ralph Norman (South Carolina) spoke out against it: “What the Senate did is inconceivable. I will vote against it both in committee and on the floor”, he stated in the Rules Committee session. Other representatives, such as Andy Ogles (Tennessee) and Andy Biggs (Arizona), negatively qualified the Senate bill and questioned the viability of its approval without additional changes. The Senate's modifications particularly impact Medicaid funding, with more severe restrictions on the funds states can receive and a transfer of administrative responsibilities from the federal government to the states. At the same time, some members of the ultraconservative wing — including the House Freedom Caucus — reject the increase in the deficit resulting from the current proposal. Keith Self (Texas) stated that the Senate "is not listening" to the request not to increase deficit spending. The concern also extends to representatives from states like New York and California, where they are demanding improvements in the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which allows taxpayers to deduct certain state and local tax burdens. Negotiations are underway to raise the limit of that deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 for five years, with annual increases and a subsequent return to the original value, although there is still not enough consensus to secure the necessary votes. The legislative process thus faces a series of internal obstacles in the House, where the Republican majority can only afford to lose three votes if all representatives are present to approve the measure and send it to the presidential office. If it does not succeed without changes, the legislation would return to the Senate or the chambers could convene a conference committee to resolve the differences, which would put at risk the schedule proposed by the Republican leadership.