Senate Committees Alter “Big Beautiful Bill” as Factions Pop Up on Medicaid, Border Security

Front and center right now on Capitol Hill are efforts to get the “Big Beautiful Bill” through the Senate, after it earlier passed the House by one vote. 

Senate committees are in the process of releasing the text of their version of the legislation, which in some cases, removes House provisions and in others adds in new ones. 

All this raises questions as to whether the whole package can pass before the July 4 self-imposed deadline.

Just released was the Senate Finance’s text on tax cuts and Medicaid cuts. While it includes legislation to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent, other changes are putting the Senate on a collision course with House Republicans. It would impose stricter work and eligibility requirements for Medicaid and reduce the federal government’s share of Medicaid spending in states. It would also raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion instead of the $4 trillion agreed to by the House.

At least two Senate Republicans, Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Ron Johnson (WI) are already opposed because they say the bill does not cut enough, leaving room for just one more defection. 

“We’re not doing anything to significantly to alter the course of the financial future of this country,” said Senator Johnson. “We’re not seriously addressing our long-term deficit and debt issues.” 

Border Funding

Meanwhile, Senator Paul is also making noise on funding for the border. Senator Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a proposal calling for $75 billion in total investment in border security funding, including $6.5 billion for construction of barriers.

That’s far short of a competing proposal issued by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Senator Graham’s plan calls for $46.5 billion for the border wall and surrounding infrastructure, $45 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, and $10 billion to reimburse states for border security costs. 

“The President promised to secure our border. His plan fulfills that promise. The Senate must do our part,” said Senator Graham in a statement. 

Still, Senator Paul said he’s not a 100 percent “no” on the legislation, adding that he wants to see changes on the debt ceiling.

"Congress is awful with money, and so you should give them a more restricted credit line, not an expansive one," Sen. Rand Paul said on NBC’s “Meet the Press." 

Judiciary Committee Proposals

Also on the border security and law enforcement front are proposals from the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

That committee’s draft text includes $30 billion for ICE, $5 billion for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and about $1 billion for the U.S. Secret Service. 

Also included is a minimum $1,000 fee for people applying for asylum.

The Senate Committee’s bill does not include House-endorsed language that would limit the ability of federal courts to enforce contempt orders. It does, however, retain another section aimed at preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders. 

“The Senate Judiciary Committee’s portion of the One Big Beautiful Bill provides essential resources that will shore up our border and immigration system for generations to come,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA).