WASHINGTON, DC — The Senate voted 51-48 Wednesday shortly after 12 a.m. to pass the newest draft of the Republican plan to overhaul the American tax code by heaping tax cuts largely on corporations and the wealthy. The bill must now make its way back to the House of Representatives — where it already was passed Tuesday afternoon — so that the representatives can approve minor technical fixes that the Senate passed.

Protesters outside the chamber interrupted the Senate vote at one point, cheering "Kill the bill!" All Senate Democrats opposed the bill, while all Republicans in attendance voted in favor. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona was absent due to medical issues but had voiced support for the legislation.

Once the House approves the Senate's changes — as it is expected to — all that will be needed for the bill to become law is President Trump's signature.

"This is a historic step toward tax relief for hardworking Americans," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement after the bill passed the Senate. "We commend every Senator who supported these tax cuts and look forward to the House's final vote on this important bill tomorrow."

Most House Republicans supported the original version of the bill 227-203 Tuesday afternoon, while all Democrats were opposed. "This is our chance, this is our moment," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in the last speech before the House vote took place Tuesday. "Let's recapture our destiny for generations to come so this beautiful story of the American people is repeated and repeated and passed onto the next generation."



Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke as debate continued late into the night and Tuesday turned into Wednesday. As some lawmakers milled noisily, Schumer became visibly irritated and asked for order.



"We believe you're messing up America," he said. "You could pay attention for a couple of minutes."

When he ended his speech, which called for Republicans to start the bill-writing process over with a truly bipartisan approach, he said: "The entire Republican party will come to rue this day." If the bill becomes law, it will represent the first major legislative accomplishment since Republicans won control of the Congress and the White House. It will also be the largest step the GOP has taken to roll back Obamacare. The legislation eliminates the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, part of a long-standing Republican campaign promise.

