Senate returns to finish 'big beautiful bill,' Thune vows members will stay until its completed

The Senate returned to Capitol Hill on Monday to finish work on President Trump's so-called, "Big, Beautiful" tax-and-spending bill before a July 4 deadline, with the chamber's leader vowing to keep senators in town until it's passed.

"Senators return to Washington today, and we will remain here until this reconciliation bill is passed," Senate Republican leader Thune posted to X on Monday. "By placing it on President Trump’s desk by the 4th of July, we will be ensuring that future generations of Americans can live in safety and prosperity."

The House has already passed its version of the legislation, but will need to pass a compromise version if the Senate makes signifcant changes to it. The Senate Parliamentarian has already axed several portions of the legislation that do not comply with chamber rules to permit passage under a simple majority, with more rulings expected Monday.

Thune, a South Dakota Republican, highlighted key areas of the bill in an opinion piece for Fox News that he expects to focus on this week, including funding for the border, defense, tax cuts and government programs like Medicaid.

"Senators have worked to develop this bill for well over a year now," he wrote. "Now it is time to act," he wrote. "Border resources are drying up. National security needs have never been more apparent. And with each passing day, we move closer to reaching both our nation’s debt limit and the largest-ever tax increase on the American people.

Senate Republicans are hoping to get the legislation in line with rules that allow them to pass the bill with a simple majority, instead of the 60-vote filibuster threshold. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.