A sweeping 1,200-page bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has gained approval from the U.S. House of Representatives by a narrow margin of 218-214, marking a significant achievement for President Donald Trump’s administration.
The legislation includes cuts to Medicaid while also addressing tax promises made during Trump’s 2024 campaign, specifically targeting overtime wages and tips.
Notably, the passage occurred after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered an extended speech lasting over eight hours, making it the longest in U.S. House history, aimed at delaying the vote.
The White House has estimated that the bill could save median-income families in Georgia between $7,500 to $12,700 in take-home pay.
However, this bill has raised concerns regarding health insurance coverage, with independent research by KFF indicating an expected increase of 3 percent in uninsured individuals in Georgia alone, equating to approximately 310,000 residents losing their health coverage.
Of these, around 56,000 would lose coverage due to changes in Medicaid, while an estimated 250,000 would be affected by adjustments to the Affordable Care Act.
Nationally, the bill is projected to cause about 10 million Americans to lose their health insurance.
In response to the bill’s passage, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock from Georgia expressed his strong opposition through social media, condemning the legislation as “highway robbery.”
Warnock, who has a history of advocating against health care cuts, highlighted the ongoing fight for health care access, vowing to continue his efforts in support of health care expansion.
Adding to his critique, Warnock accused Republicans of prioritizing wealthy individuals at the expense of working-class Americans. He warned that rural hospitals and nursing homes in Georgia might face closure due to these measures, resulting in harmful repercussions for vulnerable communities.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, publicly backed the One Big Beautiful Bill before the vote.
Greene’s support came on social media, where she voiced her frustrations regarding Jeffries’ lengthy speech and expressed confidence that Trump’s administration would lead the country toward unprecedented successes fueled by the bill’s provisions.
She has also been vocal about her enthusiasm for Trump’s endorsement of her own legislative effort, the Making American Elections Great Again Act.
Leading up to the voting session, Jeffries reiterated his opposition to the bill on the House floor, characterizing it as an attack on everyday Americans.
He noted his commitment to share the struggles of the American people, reflecting on their stories and the impact the bill may have on their lives.
One of the largest focal points of the legislation is the permanent extension of tax cuts established during Trump’s initial term, which are due to expire in December.
The bill proposes numerous tax adjustments, including eliminating taxes on overtime pay and tips, with the aim of benefitting workers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced in the early hours of Thursday that he secured enough votes for passage, indicating the optimism surrounding the vote.
### Key Provisions of the Bill
The One Big Beautiful Bill incorporates substantial fiscal measures, including:
– Permanent extensions of 2017 Trump tax cuts, exempting significant income types from taxation.
– Implementation of strict work requirements for certain adults receiving Medicaid benefits, along with enforced work regulations for additional beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
– Repeal of most clean-energy tax credits established by the previous administration.
– Allocating $40 billion towards intensified border security efforts, as well as funding deportation activities.
– Raising the federal debt ceiling by an unprecedented $5 trillion.
In terms of tax reductions, the bill proposes approximately $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, making existing tax rates permanent while introducing new benefits for specific pools of taxpayers.
Families would see an increase in the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200, though lower-income families might not fully benefit from this increase.
Additionally, the bill suggests quadrupling the caps on state and local deduction limits (SALT) to $40,000 for a duration of five years.
Businesses would be allowed to completely write off certain expenses related to equipment and research immediately, further stimulating investment.
The legislation aims to benefit wealthier households significantly while placing a financial burden on lower-income individuals,
with projections indicating that the richest Americans would receive an additional $12,000 annually, while some of the poorest individuals might face a decrease in income of up to $1,600 per year.
Middle-income families can expect rebates ranging from $500 to $1,500, according to analyses from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
### Medicaid and Health Care Coverage Changes
The bill presents a budget that caps federal Medicaid funding, significantly limiting financial allocations and consequently affecting health care coverage.
Medicaid provides essential health and long-term care services to a large segment of the American population, and such restrictions could compel states to make hard choices regarding health care funding and services.
In a statement issued to Newsweek, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services cited over $500 billion of improper Medicaid payments over the last decade, including significant amounts linked to fraud and misuse of the system by some non-eligible individuals.
The proposed legislation seeks to reform these issues by eliminating Medicaid access for illegal immigrants and instilling work requirements to ensure that assistance is focused on those who truly need it, such as pregnant women, children, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities.
### Impact on National Debt and Deficit
Experts predict that the bill would increase the national deficit by $2.4 trillion by the year 2034 if passed into law, alongside raising the national debt ceiling by $5 trillion, marking a historic increase.
The comprehensive nature of the bill has drawn varied reactions from lawmakers, with some Republicans expressing reservations about certain aspects, including provisions to regulate artificial intelligence—an area that Greene herself previously criticized.
Despite initial inconsistencies in party lines, Greene has ultimately voted in favor of advancing the bill, emphasizing her commitment to support Trump’s broader legislative agenda.
In the buildup to the House vote, President Trump expressed his thoughts via social media, framing the legislation as a choice between substantial tax cuts and economic growth versus significant tax increases that would hinder progress.
This latest pivotal moment now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, signaling a transformative legislative shift within the government as it navigates complex issues of taxation, health care, and social policy.
The ramifications of the One Big Beautiful Bill, from health insurance losses to tax cuts and state funding adjustments, present challenges and opportunities that will likely resonate across American society in the months and years to come.
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