In a major win for President Donald Trump, Congress passed the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on Thursday afternoon.
As its name indicates, the “Big Beautiful Bill” is packed with domestic policy provisions that will affect everything from tax policy to border security, welfare, healthcare, the national debt, and many more areas. The legislation’s official name is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Passed via the federal government’s budget reconciliation process, the megabill has been in the works for months. It represents a monumental victory for Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who were tasked with shepherding the legislation through Congress with slim Republican majorities.
In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation in a 215-214 vote. After amending the bill, the U.S. Senate passed it by a 51-50 margin—with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. On Thursday, the House passed the Senate’s amended version 218-214, thus clearing the way for the bill to be sent to the president.
Earlier this year, President Trump said he wanted the “Big Beautiful Bill” on his desk by July 4th. Today’s vote has made that expectation a reality.
How Minnesota’s elected officials voted on the “Big Beautiful Bill”
All four of Minnesota’s Republican members of the U.S. House voted to pass the legislation while their four Democratic counterparts voted against the bill. On July 1, Minnesota’s two U.S. Senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, voted against the bill.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer hailed the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in a statement released shortly after passage.
Emmer said, “The [House GOP] just sent the One Big Beautiful Bill to [President Trump’s] desk, delivering on the America First agenda that 77 million Americans voted for back in November.”
“From the largest tax cuts in history for workers and middle income families to securing our borders and unleashing American energy, this bill secures historic wins for every American. Promises made, promises kept,” Emmer added.
Similarly, Congressmen Brad Finstad said the bill “delivers exactly what Americans voted for: lower taxes, secure borders, energy independence, and strong national security, while also placing much-needed checks on Washington’s waste, fraud, and abuse.”
In contrast, Minnesota’s Democratic members of Congress denounced the “Big Beautiful Bill” in the strongest terms.
“This bill is one of the most cruel, immoral pieces of legislation that Congress has ever voted on,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar. “Not only did this bill get worse from the last time the House voted on it, it will be remembered as one of the most catastrophic bills passed in modern history.”
Sen. Tina Smith and Congresswoman Betty McCollum put out separate public statements slamming the bill as a tax break for billionaires.
“Trump’s Big Ugly Bill is a trillion-dollar handout for billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos – paid for in part by ripping away healthcare and nutrition assistance from millions of Americans,” said Rep. McCollum. “I joined every Democrat in Congress by voting NO!”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
