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Senate Faces Challenges Passing ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

Bradenton, FL – May 30, 2025 – The Senate’s timeline for approving the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) remains uncertain. The bill narrowly passed the House with a 215–214 vote and is now under consideration in the Senate, where it faces significant challenges.

Key Factors Affecting Senate Approval

Narrow Majority: The Senate holds a 53–47 Republican majority, allowing for only three defections within the GOP. This slim margin makes the bill’s passage highly precarious.

Internal GOP Divisions: Senators like Rand Paul and Ron Johnson have expressed opposition due to concerns over the bill’s impact on the national debt and specific provisions, such as Medicaid cuts and tax policies. Moderates like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have also raised objections, particularly regarding Medicaid reforms and their potential effects on rural healthcare systems.

Use of Reconciliation: The bill is being advanced through the budget reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority for passage and is not subject to the 60-vote filibuster threshold. However, this process also imposes restrictions on the types of provisions that can be included, potentially leading to further revisions.

Senate Leadership’s Role: Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to navigate the internal divisions and align the party’s interests. The outcome may depend on whether leadership can broker compromises on contentious issues.

Outlook

Given the deep divisions within the Republican Party and the contentious nature of the bill’s provisions, the Senate’s approval of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is not imminent. The timeline for a vote is unclear, and significant revisions may be necessary to secure sufficient support. Continued negotiations and compromises will likely determine the bill’s fate in the coming weeks.