- 7/3/2025
On the House floor, Speaker Johnson promoted the Big Beautiful Bill.
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00:00Thank you. He's recognized. Mr. Speaker, the eight hours of hogwash that we just heard
00:11will not change the outcome that you will see very shortly when we deliver historic tax relief
00:19for working families, small business owners, and farmers. Mr. Speaker, I yield one minute
00:40to our great Speaker of the House, Mr. Mike Johnson.
00:49I thank the gentleman from Missouri. I thank you, Mr. Speaker.
01:10You know, Ronald Reagan said one time that no speech should be longer than 20 minutes. And
01:14unlike the Democrat leader, I'm going to honor my colleague's time and be a little more brief
01:18than that. All right. I just want to say something that many of us learned when we were children.
01:28We were taught, you know, it takes a lot longer to build a lie than to tell the simple truth.
01:43Yes.
01:56My friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we've waited long enough. Some of us have
02:02literally been up for days now. But this day, this day is a hugely important one in the history of our
02:09nation. We have a big job to finish. And that's why we're here on the week of July 4th, just days before,
02:16just a day before now, America's birthday. It was on that fateful day, as a Democrat leader acknowledged,
02:23that our founders pledged their lives and their sacred honor to this grand experiment in self-governance
02:29that we are now here to steward. It's an experiment that falls to us to guard and to protect it.
02:35We take that very seriously on this side of the aisle. In just a few moments,
02:41we will remind the world why the American experiment still endures today and why its best days are still
02:49ahead of us. Mr. Speaker, with one big, beautiful bill, we are going to make this country stronger,
03:08much safer, and more prosperous than ever before. And every American is going to benefit from that.
03:26Today, we are laying a key cornerstone of America's new golden age. Now listen, we have a few words of gratitude
03:34first. Scripture has been cited a lot this morning, I think mostly out of context. But what I will say,
03:42what I will say, one thing that we know about Scripture is that we're supposed to give honor
03:47where honor is due. And that's what we do on this side of the aisle. I want to thank every single
03:52member of the House Republican Conference for their pouring their time and their heart and their
03:56expertise and experience into this process. I want to thank all of our amazing staff members, all of them.
04:03Yes.
04:15Their dedication, their endless hours, their hard work made this all possible. I want to thank the
04:21White House Office of Legislative Affairs, who have basically lived with us now for the last few weeks.
04:26Their patience and persistence and their professionalism is greatly appreciated.
04:31Our country's incredible cabinet secretaries have been involved as well. They've assisted us in
04:37countless ways throughout this process. Our Vice President, J.D. Vance, helped us navigate so many
04:43dire straits along the last several weeks through the House and the Senate. And of course, our bold,
04:49visionary, fearless President Donald J. Trump is the creator and the champion of the America First agenda. We will deliver upon that today. We've come a long way. We've come a long way. We began this process really about 15 months ago.
05:07We had a sense and we believed that we would have unified government. We would have this moment where the Republican Party would be given control of the White House and the Senate and the House. And we determined to ourselves that we would not waste that historic opportunity.
05:21We've had spirited debates. We've had months of deliberation and now we are finally ready to fulfill our promise to the American people. That's what we are doing today.
05:39Now, look, before I respond to the allegations from across the chamber, I just want to take us back to a day that most of us will remember so very fondly for the rest of our lives. And that's November 5th of 2024. That was Election Day, a fateful one for America.
05:57The reason that was so important, the reason it was such a turn in history is because the American people spoke with unmistakable clarity. We sensed it as we were all out campaigning. We saw that there would be a demographic shift in America. And that is exactly what the election yielded.
06:18We in our party had a record number of black and African American voters come to the Republican Party. We had a record number of Hispanic and Latino voters come to the Republican Party, a record number of Jewish voters and union workers and suburban women and urban voters.
06:33They came out in record numbers to join the Republican Party and the America First agenda with President Trump.
06:40That election was decisive. It was a bellwether. It was a time for choosing. And I tell you what, the American people chose overwhelmingly, they chose the Republican Party.
06:58And the reason they did that, the reason they did that, they didn't come hesitantly. They came with hopeful anticipation. You know why? Because this is not your father's Democratic Party.
07:08Okay? They went so far, full speed, to the far left. And their radical, woke, progressive agenda, that nonsense that they tried to push on the people was rejected by the people.
07:31These new voters came to us, they had enough of the Biden-Harris madness and all the things they were trying to hoist upon the American people that they just,
07:37don't believe in their hearts. And they were hopeful. They came to us with hope. They wanted us to restore common sense and accountability.
07:47And we promised to them that we would do just that. Those new demographics came to the Republican Party because of open borders wreaking havoc on their communities.
07:55They came because of weakness at home that fueled instability abroad. And because trillions in reckless spending put the price of gas and groceries further out of the reach for hardworking Americans.
08:06It wasn't right. President Trump and our Republican majority in Congress are fixing all of that right now.
08:13President Trump said this week, we're the hottest country in the world again.
08:26My friends, that is an objective truth. Hey, listen, how about all the wins for the president in this party?
08:32Here's just a sample from the last two weeks. The headline today will be the one big, beautiful bill passes the Congress. Okay.
08:49You got to hold your applause. There's too many wins. Are you tired of winning yet?
08:52No. Fourth jobs report in a row exceeds expectations. A sample of the headlines. Lowest monthly border encounters in U.S. history. We close the border.
09:11Last couple of days, a new trade deal with Vietnam and all the countries around the world lining up for that.
09:16UPenn agrees to ban biological men from women's sports.
09:29And they ought to give a personal apology to every female athlete impacted by that nonsense.
09:35Gas prices are at a four year low, my friends.
09:39The Air Force and Space Force both hit their 2025 recruiting goals three months early.
09:44Israel is agreeing to a 60 day ceasefire with Hamas.
09:49Successful strike on Iranian nuclear sites. Nuclear sites handles that problem. That's exactly right.
10:03Strength is back. America's back. It's resulted now in a ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel.
10:08The NATO countries are increasing their defense spending, not just 2%, 5% of GDP. Okay.
10:23The President got in charge and got a Rwanda-Congo peace deal.
10:26The Supreme Court ended nationwide injunctions. How about that?
10:29That conservative majority on the Supreme Court also allows third party or third country deportations.
10:44We've had a record high stock market and we're signing a China trade deal.
10:48That's just the last two weeks.
10:50That's just the last two weeks.
10:51That's the last two weeks.
11:03So many simple truths to share and so little time to do it because I want everybody to have a break here.
11:10But I just want to say this. It's really nice to hear my Democrat colleagues suddenly take an interest in working Americans again.
11:17Did you pick up on that theme today?
11:19Let's be clear. Working Americans stopped trusting Democrats a long time ago.
11:25That is a fact. They're looking to this side of the chamber.
11:28They're looking to the Republican Party and our principals to deliver the relief and the reform that they have long demanded and they most certainly deserve.
11:35This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the American First Agenda.
11:41It is the People's Bill. It is made for and shaped by the most diverse coalition of American voters in American history.
11:55Today, we are making the dream of a government that puts the American people first. A reality. A reality.
12:01I would need this entire notebook to tell you all the great things in the big, beautiful bill.
12:08It is aptly named, but I'll just tell you a couple of the highlights.
12:12Record tax cuts for hard working Americans.
12:23Historic savings at the same time to end reckless spending.
12:26We got energy dominance coming back to power our future.
12:30We have a secure border to protect American families.
12:33We have a strong military to restore peace through strength.
12:37And we have a government that is now accountable and responsive to the people once again.
12:42That's what we're delivering.
12:43For everyday Americans, this means real positive change that they can feel and they will feel much more when this bill is done.
12:58Families back home will have real relief.
13:00An average of $10,000 in their pockets.
13:03Thanks to the largest working and middle class tax cut in the history of this great nation.
13:08That's what we're doing today.
13:09You got hard working Americans like our waiters and our bellhops and our hairstylists.
13:22They're going to keep 100% of their tips and overtime pay.
13:26That is money they earned.
13:28It does not belong to the government.
13:29It belongs to them and they deserve to keep it.
13:31Small businesses that want to build and expand new factories.
13:41You know what they can do now?
13:42They can write off 100% of their investment.
13:46That will have us a lot more building.
13:48Young families who want to buy a home will be able to, thanks to historic savings that will put our country on a stronger financial footing.
13:55Pregnant women, children, seniors, single mothers, the disabled and the low income Americans among us receiving Medicaid and SNAP will have the peace of mind of knowing that we've made these safety nets stronger with our reforms.
14:09See, when Republicans are in charge, we bring common sense.
14:21We're going to make sure that Americans who do need and deserve those critical programs won't have to compete against people who can work but choose not to do so.
14:30That's not right.
14:31This bill is going to put fairness back in the system.
14:46We are returning to common sense.
14:48We're returning to what is good and decent that people know in their hearts and that's why they support it.
14:54More Americans will be working, volunteering and serving their communities.
14:57Because modest common sense work requirements will restore dignity and purpose to those on taxpayer funded benefits.
15:06The bill will also mean that safer streets are available in every zip code around the country.
15:11Because our border will remain fully and totally secure.
15:15The Republican Party stands for law and order and this is the side that stands with law enforcement, the brave men and women who are on the front line.
15:32The idea that those who put their own lives on the line to protect us would be assaulted for doing their jobs is unconscionable.
15:47Law enforcement, I know you agree, I know, amen. Law enforcement, law enforcement will have the help of a border wall now that's 100% complete.
16:01Our immigration enforcement officers will get a boost from more manpower and resources and detention space so that detained illegal aliens are not released back into the streets like they were for the last four years.
16:21And our homeland can rest soundly again under the protection of President Trump's Golden Dome. That's what we're investing in.
16:41Look, any of these individual achievements would be historic victories for a Republican Congress or any Congress.
16:48And today we're delivering on all of them in one big, beautiful bill.
16:54That's what Americans can count on when we pass this legislation and that's exactly what Democrats will vote to oppose today.
17:02That's a fact.
17:04We didn't write this bill for the Democratic Party or the elites or the media.
17:07This bill is for hardworking Americans, and they deserve it.
17:20I'm going to just say this as plainly as I can.
17:23This is a simple truth.
17:24If you're for a secure border, safer communities, and a strong military, this bill is for you.
17:30If you're for common sense fiscal responsibility and reducing the deficit, this bill is for you.
17:35If you're for fair and lower taxes, bigger paychecks, affordable gas and groceries, and restoring dignity to hard work, this is the bill for you.
17:55It makes no difference whether our colleagues across the chamber speak for 25 minutes or 25 hours.
18:12They can't change the truth.
18:13They can't change the truth.
18:14And today, today was about performance for some of them.
18:19But today for us is about results.
18:22It results that improve the lives of Americans, regardless of their race, religion, color, or creed.
18:28It does not matter.
18:29I tell you what, Ronald Reagan used to remind us you can always trust the American people, and we do trust the American people, and they can discern the difference.
18:46What they saw on display here today is that Democrats deliver performances and Republicans deliver results.
18:52Today, my friends, we are ready now.
19:06We are going to deliver what we were sent here to do, and every American will benefit from it.
19:12In 1793, just steps from where we stand today, President George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the United States Capitol.
19:19Over 50 years later, on July 4th again, members of this body gathered once again to lay a second cornerstone.
19:27Once more on July 4th, at the height of the Cold War, Congress laid a third cornerstone.
19:33And this week, with this vote today, on our nation's birthday being tomorrow, we lay a fourth.
19:40With this bill, we can vote as stewards of that great legacy that we have inherited in this extraordinary nation that we are blessed to live in.
19:48We can lay another sturdy foundation for the future of this country, a future where working Americans can feel relief, where government can finally start living within its means again, and where the United States is safer, stronger, and more prosperous than ever before.
20:05That's right.
20:12Now, I'm going to say this, as they mock America, and mock everything, and mock the bill.
20:16We'll see how the people feel about that.
20:18So, listen, seriously, as friends and colleagues, really, across the aisle, what we celebrate tomorrow is the nation's birthday.
20:31Let's put the politics aside for a minute, and let's reflect on our blessings.
20:34No kidding, really.
20:35Tomorrow is the 249th birthday of our nation.
20:40That's right.
20:41What's up for that?
20:47Yeah!
20:48USA!
20:49USA!
20:50USA!
20:51USA!
20:52USA!
20:53USA!
20:54USA!
20:55USA!
20:56USA!
20:57USA!
20:58USA!
20:59USA!
21:00USA!
21:01USA!
21:02USA!
21:04USA!
21:05I mean this sincerely, I think my colleagues for standing.
21:08for standing. We all should be united in that. We are. We are. We have squabbles. We have partisan
21:14debates and all of this. But at the end of the day, we're all Americans, man. And we've got to
21:19believe that. We've got to know it. We've got to recognize that we live in the greatest nation in
21:22the history of the world. It's not even close. My friends and colleagues, we are so blessed.
21:36We should not take it for granted. We live in the most free, the most successful, the most powerful,
21:42the most benevolent nation that has ever been on the face of the earth. And there's a reason for that.
21:49The reason that we are the greatest nation is because we were built on the ultimate foundation.
21:54And the bold declaration that my friend Hakeem Jeffries articulated earlier is true. We unite
22:00under that. The bold declaration that we do hold these truths to be self-evident. What is a self-
22:06evident truth? It's something that's obvious. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men
22:10are created equal. It does not say born equal. It says created equal. And that it is our creator. Yes.
22:20It is our creator that gives us our rights. See, the powerful thing about that is we're the first
22:25nation in the history of the world that acknowledge that our rights do not derive from government.
22:30They come from God himself.
22:44You see that, that, uh, those words up there, that motto, it says, in God, we trust right above
22:50the speaker's roster. You know, a previous Congress put that there in the early sixties in the height of
22:55the Cold War. There's, there's a little, uh, uh, uh, visitor's guide that people get when, when you do
22:59tours late at night, you, you've probably seen your constituents and visitors and friends get the guide.
23:03If you turn, I think it's about to page 21. It explains why that's there. And it says,
23:07Congress voted to put that there as a rebuke to the Soviet's worldview at the height of the Cold War.
23:14Why? Because communism, socialism find their root in Marxism. And Marxism begins with the belief
23:22that there is no God. It's wrong. And this Congress made us stand those many years ago and we should
23:28do it again. We're different. We're distinct. We're exceptional because we acknowledge that right
23:33there, our motto. It doesn't say in government we trust. It says in God we trust. And we better
23:52remember that. He has blessed us with his grand experiment in self-governance now for almost two
23:58and a half centuries. And by God's grace, we are working hard and we are delivering on our promise
24:03to make America great again.
24:17This is without a doubt the most important vote of this Congress. And I, I think this would may be the
24:21most important vote that any of us take in our entire lifetimes. And everybody better remember
24:26it however you vote today. My friends, the president of the United States is waiting with his pen.
24:33The American people are waiting for this relief. We've heard enough talk. It's time for action.
24:38Let's finish the job for him. Vote yes on the bill.
24:50With that, I yield back.
25:01The gentleman yields and all time for debate has expired.
25:05Pursuant to House Resolution 566, the previous question is ordered. The question is on the
25:20motion by the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Arrington. All those in favor say aye.
25:24Aye.
25:24Those opposed, no.
25:26No.
25:27The ayes have it. The motion is agreed to. For what purpose does a gentleman from Massachusetts
25:33seek recognition?
25:34No.