After a long voting process, the U.S. House of Representatives approved on Thursday, July 3, the budget reconciliation bill.

The bill, dubbed by the GOP the “Big, Beautiful Bill” but referred to by Democrats as the “Big, Ugly Bill,” passed the Senate on July 1 by a narrow margin, 51 to 50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

The bill met with opposition from all Democrats in both houses of Congress and from some Republicans, especially deficit hawks who objected to the estimated $3.4 trillion or more increase in the national debt. In the end, every GOP House member who protested the bill voted for it anyway, with two exceptions. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., voted no. 

The final vote in the House was 218-214 after a record-long vote that was extended by a more than eight-hour speech by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

The bill will make permanent the 2017 tax cuts, will dramatically increase the budget for immigration enforcement and detention, cut green energy incentives, cut taxes on tips and slash Medicaid and SNAP benefits for millions of people. 

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., who represents Homewood and Flossmoor in Congress, issued a statement following the bill’s passage:

“House Republicans did the unconscionable: they passed the Big, Ugly Bill that would steal people’s healthcare, rob food out of children’s mouths, cut clean energy jobs, and flood our streets with dangerous weapons like gun silencers. After one call from President Trump, so-called hardline conservatives folded like cowards, voting to raise the deficit by $3.4 trillion. While House Republicans bent the knee to President Trump, every House Democrat stood up for the American people to vote ‘no’ in one resounding voice.

“If people do not have healthcare, they will die. That’s not hyperbolic – that’s fact. The Big, Ugly Bill rips healthcare away from 17 million people and closes hospitals, all the while exacerbating public health crises like maternal mortality and gun violence. President Trump promised not to touch Medicaid – but he lied, and House Republicans were complicit in his scam. Shame on House Republicans, and shame on President Trump for betraying the American people.”

“Elections have consequences and today we see that reality in the gravest way. Donald Trump and the GOP have delivered a devastating blow to every single American with their Big Ugly Betrayal of a bill, sinking us into more debt to save their billionaire friends.

“All of us will be impacted by the fact that 17 million Americans will lose their health insurance and some will die. More than 40 million Americans will struggle to feed their families and hundreds of thousands of American workers will lose their jobs. That kind of impact will create a ripple effect throughout our economy and hit every community for generations. In Illinois, this means nearly half a million people will lose their healthcare coverage, rural hospitals will close, it will be more expensive to find healthcare than it will be to buy dangerous weapons and gun silencers, nearly half a million Illinoisans will lose some food assistance, and almost 20,000 Illinois residents will lose their jobs.   

“That is what Trump and the GOP have delivered to America on the eve of the Fourth of July. I voted against this abomination of a bill every single time and am more committed than ever to the fight ahead. 

“Illinois voters should take notice: any member of Congress who voted for this bill is not fit to lead you. I will continue to push back on this cruel agenda in the U.S. Senate.”

Kelly is a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Sen. Richard Durbin, who is not seeking reelection.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also issued a statement:

“Today, Congress passed a bill that strips nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid over the next 10 years while delivering enormous tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and powerful corporations. This legislation puts health care further out of reach for tens of thousands of Cook County residents, including working families, seniors, people with disabilities and communities already facing the greatest barriers to care.

“Nationally, experts estimate that as many as 12 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage if this bill becomes law. Here in Cook County, we estimate our health system stands to lose at least $88 million each year in Medicaid reimbursement as patients lose insurance, threatening critical services and stability for those who rely on them most.

“This is a reckless and unjust decision that favors the wealthy over the basic well-being of everyday Americans. I urge our leaders at the federal level to consider the real harm this bill will cause, reverse course and stand up for the fundamental principle that health care should be accessible to all, not just the privileged among us.”