House Republicans Advance Budget Bill Democrats Say Cuts Health Coverage for 17 Million

House Republicans pushed their sweeping budget proposal—dubbed the “Big Ugly Bill” by opponents—through a pre-dawn procedural vote on 3 July, clearing the way for a final vote later in the morning. The overnight session kept lawmakers on the floor past 6 a.m. as GOP leaders pressed ahead with a package that would fulfill key elements of their fiscal agenda. Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, mounted an hours-long protest. Jeffries held the floor for more than four hours, arguing that the bill would strip health insurance from an estimated 17 million Americans, scale back Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and widen the federal deficit while delivering new tax breaks for high earners. If adopted, the measure would mark the most extensive rollback of Affordable Care Act coverage since its enactment, Democrats said. Republicans have not yet released a formal Congressional Budget Office score, and full vote totals were not immediately available. Democratic lawmakers vowed to oppose the legislation en bloc when the House reconvenes for the decisive roll-call vote.