U.S. House of Representatives pushes to get Trump's spending bill signed by July 4
發佈日期: 2025-07-03 20:18
TVB News
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives strained through a day of starts and stops, trying to advance President Donald Trump's tax-cut and spending bill.
With only a slim margin, GOP leaders worked almost around the clock to persuade sceptical holdouts to send the bill to Trump's desk by July 4th.
From late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, a procedural roll call was held open as several Republicans refused to give their votes.
For more than seven hours, the chamber stood idle as GOP lawmakers met with Trump at the White House and others shuttled in and out of the speaker's office for private meetings.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had earlier recalled lawmakers to Washington eager to seize on the momentum of the bill's passage
in the Senate the day before, and he vowed to press ahead.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives said:
"Well, it's been a long, productive day. We've been talking with members from across the conference and making sure that everyone's concerns are addressed and their questions are answered. And it has been a good day. We're in a good place right now. This is the legislative process. This is exactly how I think the framers intended for it to work. We feel very good about where we are and we're moving forward. So we're going to deliver the big, beautiful bill. The president's America First agenda, and we're going to do right by the American people. This is going to be a great thing for the country. Look forward to moving it forward."
Republicans have struggled mightily with the bill nearly every step of the way this year, often succeeding by only one vote.
Their House majority now stands at just 220-212, leaving little room for defections.
Democrats who are against the bill stood shoulder to shoulder on the Capitol steps Wednesday morning, rallying behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader said: "Shame on Republicans for even bringing this bill to the House floor. So all we need are four Republicans to join us in support of their constituents, to have John McCain-level courage, and stand up in defence of the health care of the American people."
Republicans from competitive districts have bristled at the Senate's bill cuts to Medicaid, while conservatives have lambasted the legislation as straying from their fiscal goals.
