Trump-supported House megabill pushed over top with help from Nevada's Amodei

In this image from video with the final vote total, the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after an all-night session at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May 22, 2025. Photo by: House Television via AP

The House narrowly passed the megabill on President Donald Trump’s priority agenda early this morning, with support from lone Republican Mark Amodei and Nevada’s Democratic members voting against it.  

The path to the 215-214 vote took months of working through disagreement among Republicans, with the House framework first appearing in February and facing internal battles during committee meetings mixed with the anticipated strong Democratic opposition.

At 1,118 pages and 42 pages of amendments, it extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts set to expire this year, increases funding for the administration’s immigration policies and cuts funds for programs including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a name assigned after a phrase Trump shared — is projected to benefit wealthier populations and disproportionately share government resources, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The most recent CBO analysis was published Monday and doesn’t consider the last-minute changes made in the version that passed today.  

“The agency estimates that in general, resources would decrease for households in the lowest decile (tenth) of the income distribution,” the CBO wrote. “Whereas resources would increase for households in the highest decile.” 

The Democrats have focused much of their opposing efforts on the legislation’s health care provisions, which now include work requirements for Medicaid coverage along with the cuts. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., shared those concerns on the “disastrous” bill’s decision not to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire this year.  

“While House Republicans march in lockstep with Donald Trump, Nevadans are being left behind – poorer, sicker, and hungrier,” Titus said in a statement.  

Titus was part of the effort to strike down a provision from Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, to sell public land in Nevada and Utah to generate federal revenue, with support from Reps. Susie Lee, D-Las Vegas., and Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. — a former Interior Secretary who made an appeal to his colleagues. It was done through a “manager’s amendment,” which includes final policy changes before the floor vote.  

“While the House reconciliation bill ultimately did not end up including my lands amendment, the fight is far from over,” Amodei said in a statement. “I will continue to push for the responsible management of underused lands in Nevada and ensure our state’s future is no longer jeopardized by excessive federal land ownership.” 

The megabill also includes the Las Vegas-born idea the president introduced last year: “no tax on tips.” Congress has been pushing varying Senate bills on the measure, with Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., offering a way for Democrats to support the measure without voting for the reconciliation bill earlier this week. She successfully sought unanimous consent on Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz-authored legislation she cosponsored alongside Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.  

“Through this bipartisan bill, it shows that I am not going to allow Washington gridlock and partisanship to block a bill without a fight.,” Rosen said on the floor Tuesday. “That’s why we’re going to pass it today.”  

The lead-up to the full House vote included committee markup meetings beginning at 1 a.m. or running into the early hours of the day; it’s something Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., has been criticizing Republicans for.  

“The way Congressional Republicans conduct business in the dead of night matches the way they approach policy that harms their own constituents — it’s absolutely asinine,” Horsford said in a statement. “Nevadans deserve a government that prioritizes public health, food security, community safety, education and a dignified retirement for all who earn it. Instead, Republicans just stiffed the Silver State, and every state.”  

The bill is expected to face changes at the Senate, especially as the reconciliation process allows the majority party to avoid a filibuster. Republicans are aiming to get the bill to Trump’s desk by July 4.