Today, the House of Representatives narrowly passed President Trump’s tax-and-spending reconciliation bill, following its approval in the Senate two days earlier. The legislation, known as H.R. 1 or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” proposes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts primarily benefiting the ultra-wealthy and is funded by reductions in Medicaid, food assistance, and green-energy programs while increasing defense spending.
Democrats unanimously opposed the bill in both chambers. Some Republicans also voted against it, including Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Thomas Massie (KY-04).
The bill now awaits President Trump’s signature after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie vote in the Senate on Tuesday.
Earlier versions of the bill contained provisions that threatened postal and federal workers’ retirement security. However, these were removed due to advocacy efforts by members of postal and federal unions.
“This was a direct result of APWU member activism and shows our collective power,” said Judy Beard, APWU Legislative and Political Director. She thanked members for their engagement with Congress through various forms of communication.
APWU President Mark Dimondstein criticized the bill: “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,” he stated. He argued that while beneficial to wealthy individuals and industries like fossil fuels and defense contractors, it negatively impacts working families.
Dimondstein added that despite removing threats to federal and postal retirement benefits from this package, Congress still approved significant wealth transfers favoring corporate America at the expense of essential services for low-income people.
He urged continued vigilance against other potentially harmful bills progressing through Congress while promising ongoing updates from APWU regarding future challenges.
