House votes 218-214 to approve President Trump's massive budget bill

· UPI

July 3 (UPI) -- The House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2026 federal budget bill, commonly referred to as "one big, beautiful bill," with a 218 to 214 vote on Thursday afternoon.

The measure now goes to President Donald Trump for signing, which he is scheduled to do at 5 p.m. EDT Friday at the White House while celebrating the Fourth of July.

It delivers the largest middle-class tax cut in U.S. history and includes most of what Trump wanted to accomplish during his second term in office, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a news release shared with UPI.

It also provides permanent border security, significant military funding and "restores fiscal sanity," Leavitt said.

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"The pro-growth policies within this historic legislation are going to fuel an economic boom like we've never seen before," and "officially usher in the Golden Age of America," she added.

Middle-class tax benefits

Once it becomes law, the budget bill expands the child tax credit, while eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, Social Security income, savings accounts for newborns and other income sources, Leavitt said.

It makes income tax cuts enacted during Trump's first term in office permanent instead of allowing them to expire this year.

About 90% of income tax filers will be able to deduct up to $2,000 per jointly filed tax return for married couples and up to $1,000 for individual filers for charitable contributions, CNBC reported.

The bill also reduces tax breaks for clean energy projects that were created by the Biden administration.

The funding bill also is projected to increase the nation's current $36 trillion deficit by another $3.4 trillion over the next decade.

Border and immigration enforcement

Among funding items included in the bill are $46.5 billion to pay for border wall construction and infrastructure through 2029, $45 billion to increase federal immigration detention capacity and $14.4 billion to fund deportations, including transportation, Axios reported.

The measure makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the nation's largest federal law enforcement agency and doubles the federal government's "immigrant detention" capacity.

The bill also provides $12 billion to reimburse states for the costs of immigration enforcement, $8 billion to hire additional. staff for immigration law enforcement and $3 billion to house unaccompanied "migrant" children.

'Legislative win' for workers and families

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the bill's passage the "biggest legislative win for American workers and families."

"The One, Big, Beautiful Bill will unleash the full potential of the U.S. economy," Bessent said in a news release. "It locks in permanent, pro-growth tax cuts for families, workers and job creators."

He said the measure strengthens critical programs, national security and the nation's manufacturing center while preventing the "largest tax hike in history."

"The OBBB will strengthen important programs for those who need them most and save taxpayer dollars by cutting waste, fraud and abuse," Bessent added.

Opposition to budget bill's passage

Two Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, voted against the measure. So did all House Democrats, CBS News reported.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries launched into an eight-hour speech on the House floor early Thursday morning to delay a final vote.

Jeffries, D-N.Y., began speaking at 4:52 a.m. EDT and described frustration with the leaders of the House GOP, who only allowed one hour of debate on the more than 900-page bill.

Jeffries told stories of people who will be harmed by the bill, focusing on those in Republican districts and calling out the House members who represent them.

Jeffries' eight-hour speech set a record for the longest delivered on the House floor, USA Today reported.

GOP worked to secure votes

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took the floor after Jeffries finished speaking to conduct the final vote after spending most of the day Wednesday negotiating with GOP House members.

Trump also met with skeptical GOP House members at the White House to work out a way to get the measure passed before the Fourth of July holiday.

Johnson said he and the president discussed having the measure, House Resolution 1, signed into law during Friday's national holiday.

"What more appropriate time to pass the big, beautiful bill for America than on Independence Day?" he said, as reported by USA Today.

Lisa Hornung contributed to this report.