The changes appear to resolve concerns among Republican factions, potentially clearing the way for passage of the bill by the House Rules Committee.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unveiled an amendment to the Republican megabill on May 21, tailored to satisfy objections from fiscal conservatives and moderates in the Republican conference and allow passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Dubbed a “manager’s amendment” in Capitol Hill parlance, the changes were unveiled following a marathon 19-hour debate in the House Rules Committee on the legislation. Its release followed a day of hurried negotiations between Trump, Johnson, and conservative members of the House Freedom Caucus.
The amendment makes consequential changes to several key components of the bill, including the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction and Medicaid.
It would accelerate the start date of Medicaid work requirements—which are strengthened under the bill—from 2029 to 2026. It also speeds up the phasing out of Inflation Reduction Act energy tax credits for wind, solar, and battery storage in 2028, with some exceptions.
Those two changes could assuage conservatives, who have demanded steeper cuts.
The amendment also bumps the SALT deduction cap up to $40,000 per household with an income of up to $500,000. That provision was in response to purple district moderates who have pushed for increasing the SALT deduction as well as the gradual phasing-out of certain Inflation Reduction Act projects.
Potential grants worth $12 billion for state border security actions have also been outlined in the megabill, alongside a provision to remove the requirement to register silencer attachments under the National Firearms Act of 1934—a move immediately celebrated by pro-Second Amendment groups.
After the Rules Committee reconvened to consider the amendment, Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) was critical of the panel moving ahead with the vote, saying that the changes contained in the manager’s amendment were too consequential for immediate consideration.
The Democrat made a motion to adjourn to stall consideration of the amendment, but it was defeated easily in a party-line vote. McGovern put forward several additional motions and amendments to stall the vote.
House Republican leaders have been unclear on their plans for the legislation.
By Joseph Lord and Lawrence Wilson
