By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a full sprint for Republicans on Capitol Hill this week as they try to move forward on President Trump’s sweeping legislative agenda, or his so-called “Mega-Bill.”
“We’re working around the clock to build that consensus to get the 218 votes and deliver on President Trump’s America First agenda,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Work in the House Ways and Means Committee began around 3 p.m. Tuesday and wrapped up just after 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“This is the longest in 33 years that I’ve ever been in this room at any one time,” said Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee.
The committee voted to advance a key piece of the package—an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. If passed into law, it would block tax rate increases set to take effect at the end of the year.
But the work is far from over. The House Agriculture Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee are still ironing out provisions that could impact vital programs.
In the Agriculture Committee, lawmakers are tackling one of the most controversial parts of the bill: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“These cuts could fundamentally change how the program operates in the future,” said Ty Jones Cox, Vice President of Food Assistance at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, adding that the Republican plan imposes tougher work requirements.
Based on preliminary estimates, Jones Cox said: “It puts about 6 million adults at risk of being cut off from SNAP entirely.”
At the same time, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is looking for big savings within its jurisdiction. That includes tougher work requirement proposals for Medicaid.
“If you’re able-bodied and you have no dependents and you’re receiving taxpayer-funded Medicaid, you should be expected to work, look for work, or enroll in job training,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY.) during the committee’s markup Tuesday.
“The proposed work requirements could cause up to 1.5 million Medicaid beneficiaries in New York State to lose coverage,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
House Republicans are aiming to pass the large package before Memorial Day. If successful, it would still need to clear the Senate—where some Republicans oppose the House plan.
Some Senate Republicans are waiting to see what the final product in the House looks like.
“We’ll see what ultimately comes out of the House. What we’re seeing now is what is coming out of various committees, and it’ll have to go through a process with the Senate, through reconciliation,” said Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).
