Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado fought back tears Thursday as she slammed President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill during a tense day on Capitol Hill.
“We were forced back here. I took a red-eye flight, I haven’t slept,” Pettersen said, visibly emotional. “We’re being forced to vote on a disastrous budget proposal that’s going to decimate our rural hospitals and healthcare for millions of families.”
Pettersen warned the bill would hike costs for private insurance while flooding hospitals with uncompensated care. “It’s hard to hold back the tears with how bad this bill really is,” she added.
The legislation includes $100 billion in new funding for ICE and border enforcement, major Medicaid changes, and eliminates taxes on tips and overtime.
The bill narrowly passed the Senate 51-50 earlier this week, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. In the House, only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, voted against it during Thursday’s procedural vote.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, previously a vocal critic, flipped his vote to “yes,” helping push the measure forward.
House Democrats mounted a last-ditch effort to block the bill. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries used the “magic minute” rule to deliver a five-hour floor speech, blasting the legislation as reckless.
Despite the emotional pleas and procedural protests, Trump’s sweeping spending package continues to advance through Congress.