Iowa congresswoman says GOP will try to ensure illegals won't get Medicaid in 'big beautiful bill'

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, said Monday that House Republicans will try to make sure illegal migrants won't get access to Medicaid in the "big beautiful bill."

"I think it is a provision that we're going to work to try to see what other amendments there are, or we can get this placed back in, as you know, the Byrd Rule," Miller-Meeks said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show.

On Monday, the Senate failed to approve a provision to remove illegal migrants from Medicaid despite a majority of lawmakers approving the measure.

The plan was originally included in the "Big, Beautiful Bill" and was expected to need a simple majority to clear the chamber, though Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDonough determined that it would need 60 votes to pass.

The chamber voted 56-44 in favor of the move, falling short of the filibuster threshold.

"It is something that we need to address," Miller-Meeks said. "We need to make sure that illegal immigrants are not receiving Medicaid. 

"This was one of the key provisions we put in the House, which there was a broad consensus among the conference, among Republicans and, quite honestly, there's a broad consensus among the public that illegal migrants should not be on Medicaid," she also said.