Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he will block Republicans from fast-tracking President Donald Trump’s massive 940-page legislative package—dubbed the “big, beautiful bill”—by forcing the entire text to be read aloud on the Senate floor.
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Tactic: Any senator can demand that a bill be read in full. Schumer’s move will tie up the chamber for roughly 15 hours before debate can even begin.
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Goal: Delay GOP momentum, buy Democrats time to comb through the sprawling legislation, and inflict “maximum pain” on Republicans eager to claim a quick win.
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Next steps:
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Reading marathon—Clerks will slog through the text late into the night.
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20 hours of debate—Equally divided between both parties. Democrats plan to exhaust their full ten hours; Republicans say they’ll need far less.
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Vote-a-rama—Unlimited amendments, each requiring a vote, giving Democrats more chances to slow the process and force tough votes on GOP senators, several of whom already oppose parts of the bill dealing with Medicaid and federal land sales.
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Why It Matters
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Reconciliation squeeze: Republicans are using budget-reconciliation rules to bypass a filibuster and pass the bill with 51 votes. Schumer can’t stop them in the end, but he can drag out the clock.
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Historic echo: The last time an all-night bill reading occurred was 2021, when then-Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) forced Democrats to read the 600-plus-page American Rescue Plan. Schumer objected then; now he’s flipping the tactic on its head.
GOP Outlook
Despite the spectacle, Senate Republicans remain confident they will eventually reach final passage. Leadership notes that reading the bill delays—but does not derail—the inevitable. Still, expect bruising procedural warfare, late-night caffeine runs, and plenty of grandstanding before the dust settles.