Congress’ Wild Ride: Trump’s $3.3T Bill Squeaks Through Before July 4

In a legislative marathon that could rival the most grueling sports showdowns, Congress pushed through President Donald Trump’s massive $3.3 trillion bill just in time for the July 4 holiday, testing the endurance of lawmakers, aides, and even Capitol janitors. This wasn’t just a bill—it was a political gauntlet, stretching nerves and schedules to the breaking point.

The House kicked things off in May, passing its version of the so-called big, beautiful bill ahead of Memorial Day. But the Senate? That’s where the real drama unfolded. Republican senators spent weeks tinkering with the legislation, aiming to meet budget rules and secure just enough votes to start debate. By late June, hopes of a quick procedural vote fizzled as senators like Ron Johnson and Thom Tillis balked at an incomplete draft.

By June 28, the Senate finally mustered a procedural vote—after a three-hour delay, turning a 15-minute process into a nearly four-hour saga. Then, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer threw a curveball, forcing clerks to read all 940 pages aloud, a 16-hour ordeal that left voices hoarse and spirits frayed. The Senate’s vote-a-rama didn’t even start until Monday morning, dragging through the night until a deal with Sen. Lisa Murkowski on rural hospitals clinched a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, aptly dubbed a Van Halen vote for its 51-50 tally.

Over in the House, things got even messier. A technical error in the rule sparked a record-breaking seven-and-a-half-hour vote, the longest in House history. Speaker Mike Johnson played hardball, daring holdouts to stand firm. By 3:30 a.m. Thursday, after Rep. Scott Perry raced back from Pennsylvania, the House cleared the rule. But Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wasn’t done—he spoke for nearly nine hours, smashing Kevin McCarthy’s old record for floor speeches. Exhausted lawmakers finally passed the bill 218-214, with just two GOP defections.

This wasn’t just about policy—it was a test of wills, exposing the chaotic clock management that defines Capitol Hill. As Reagan once quipped, no speech should last over 20 minutes. Tell that to Congress, where time bends to the rhythm of politics.