Senate Passes Sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill”; Final House Vote Expected Soon

McCOOK Neb. - I typically focus on local news here at McCook News Now, but I believe this national story deserves our attention. The One Big Beautiful Bill is a sweeping piece of legislation that could have a significant impact on Nebraskans-from healthcare access and food assistance to taxes and energy policy.

Because of the size and scope of the bill, and the speed at which it's moving through Congress, I wanted to provide a

straightforward, unbiased summary so that readers can stay informed and decide for themselves how they feel.

— Anna

On July 1, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a wide-ranging legislative package often referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The vote was 51–50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The legislation now returns to the House for a final vote before it can be sent to the president’s desk.

At nearly 1,000 pages, the bill combines multiple major policy changes across tax law, healthcare, federal spending, and environmental regulation. It was introduced in the House earlier this spring and passed there in May by a margin of 215–214. The Senate vote came after extensive negotiations and use of the budget reconciliation process, which allows for passage with a simple majority.

Key Provisions:

• Tax Policy: Makes permanent many tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including corporate and high-income tax reductions, along with new credits for families and small businesses.

• Medicaid and Healthcare: Adds work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, modifies eligibility processes, and changes funding structures. The Congressional Budget Office projects potential coverage losses affecting millions over the next decade.

• Social Programs: Reduces federal funding for SNAP (food assistance), student loans, and other aid programs, aimed at offsetting tax-related revenue loss.

• Clean Energy: Rolls back clean energy incentives and penalizes certain foreign component sourcing for solar and wind technologies.

• Federal Spending: Despite some cuts, the bill is projected to add trillions to the federal deficit over the next 10 years.

Supporters, including President Donald Trump and many congressional Republicans, say the bill encourages growth, streamlines government programs, and reduces dependency on federal aid. Critics argue that its breadth makes it difficult to fully evaluate and that bundling unrelated items into one bill limits transparency and public accountability.

The full text of the bill is available at congress.gov.