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The Senate is locked in a marathon voting session, with lawmakers debating hundreds of amendments to President Donald Trump’s sweeping new budget and tax proposal. The 940-page package, called the “one big, beautiful bill,” includes some of the most dramatic changes to the nation’s tax code and safety net programs in decades.At its core, the bill delivers broad tax cuts, but the largest benefits would go to high earners. It also proposes major spending cuts by imposing stricter work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid and food stamps, a key sticking point that has divided even Republicans.Some Conservatives, including Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla. and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., are pushing for deeper Medicaid cuts. Meanwhile, moderates such as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have attempted to soften the impact. Her amendment to increase rural hospital funding by raising taxes on the wealthy failed to pass.Democrats, while outnumbered, are using procedural tools to draw out the debate and spotlight the bill’s implications. They filed the majority of the nearly 300 amendments being considered during what is commonly known on Capitol Hill as a “v�dzٱ�-��-��������.”“Our amendments will give Republicans so many chances to defend Medicaid and SNAP and good-paying jobs and clean energy,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, “that if they say no, they’ll regret it long after this debate is done.”Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, “This bill is a critical step forward for the American economy. It lowers taxes, strengthens our military, and ensures we are putting American workers first. We urge everyone to support it.”As of Tuesday morning, at least two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky. and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have said they will not support the bill. GOP leadership can only afford one more defection, or the legislation will fail.What’s at stake for rural hospitalsOne of the bill’s most controversial components is the proposed Medicaid overhaul. Experts warn that new work requirements could significantly reduce funding to rural hospitals, many of which are already struggling.According to the Center for Healthcare and Quality Payment Reform, 14% of rural hospitals nationwide, more than 300 facilities, are at immediate risk of closing. The threat is especially severe in some states:Alabama: 49% of rural hospitals are at riskOklahoma: 29%Arkansas: 23%Maine: 21%Pennsylvania: 18%Even states with lower percentages could face increased strain if Medicaid dollars are cut. Hospital administrators and health policy experts argue the bill could tip financially fragile facilities over the edge, reducing access to emergency and primary care for millions of Americans. Keep watching for the latest news from the Washington News Bureau.