In a marathon 17-hour session that blended legislative grind with moments of unintentional comedy, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated “big, beautiful” bill—a sprawling package aimed at extending his signature tax cuts, tightening border security, and cracking down on financial loopholes used by illegal immigrants. But while the bill moved forward, several lawmakers literally fell asleep on the job, underscoring the scale—and exhaustion—of the effort.
After 17 hours, House Ways and Means Committee just voted 26-19 along party lines to advance its portion of the tax bill to House Budget Committee.
JCT’s Barthold gets a standing ovation from members afterward as Smith shouts him out for “staying through this entire hearing.” pic.twitter.com/cJXakTvSch
— Eleanor Mueller (@Eleanor_Mueller) May 14, 2025
The hearing stretched through the night into the early morning hours, and fatigue proved bipartisan. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) was caught on camera nodding off. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) also appeared to succumb to sleep just as the session turned to early morning debate. Even Republican Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) needed a wake-up nudge from a colleague after failing to respond during questioning.
Despite the drowsy moments, Republicans emerged victorious. The bill cleared its first major hurdle in committee, laying the groundwork for what may become one of the most ambitious conservative policy packages in recent memory.
WATCH:@RepDebDingell is asleep in a hearing room pic.twitter.com/AhVaGiFjcf
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) May 14, 2025
Dubbed the “big, beautiful” bill by Trump—a signature phrase he’s used to describe everything from walls to trade deals—the legislation is multi-faceted and aggressive in scope:
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Tax Reform: The bill would extend and expand key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including lower corporate and individual tax rates.
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Border Security: It allocates significant funding for border enforcement, including personnel increases, surveillance technology, and the resumption of wall construction in high-traffic areas.
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Remittance Taxation: One of the most controversial proposals is a 5% excise tax on remittances sent by illegal immigrants to foreign countries. This would not apply to verified U.S. citizens or nationals and would be offset for legal workers through a refundable tax credit tied to Social Security verification.
The remittance crackdown is rooted in economic data: in 2020 alone, $103 billion in untaxed remittances left the U.S. for just six countries, with $19 billion headed to China. In January 2025, Nicaragua alone received $373.5 million in remittances—funds that critics say fuel foreign economies while draining American dollars from the tax base.
WATCH:
Another @HouseDemocrats is asleep — this time it’s @janschakowsky https://t.co/RNw6W37YEp pic.twitter.com/mq6onS1hWm
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) May 14, 2025
The proposed tax echoes previous efforts by Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), who floated a 10% remittance tax in 2023. The Heritage Foundation has pushed for even harsher measures—up to a 50% tax on outbound transfers by individuals who cannot prove lawful presence.
