Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence Thursday morning that he had secured enough votes to pass the sweeping GOP domestic policy megabill, eyeing a final passage as early as today. Amidst rigorous discussions and last-minute lobbying, Johnson aims to meet a self-imposed deadline of July 4, asserting that the House will lose only “one or two” Republican votes.

“We'll get this. We'll land this plane before July 4,” Johnson assured reporters, signaling his optimism about overcoming the legislative hurdles in time for the national holiday.

The push to advance the megabill has been intense, with GOP leaders working overnight to address concerns from conservative members who were initially resistant due to amendments made by the Senate. However, Johnson noted that interventions by President Donald Trump and his administration played a crucial role in swaying the dissenters. “The president helped answer questions. We had Cabinet secretaries involved, and experts in all the fields, and I think they got there,” Johnson explained.

Despite broad support, one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, remains a holdout, having voted against the procedural steps earlier. Johnson acknowledged Fitzpatrick’s reservations but remained hopeful, stating, “I tried to encourage him to get to a yes.”

Meanwhile, the debate on the House floor has been extended significantly due to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ utilization of the so-called magic minute. This procedural tactic, which grants unlimited speaking time to party leaders, has prolonged discussion into its sixth hour. Jeffries' marathon speech is in pursuit of breaking the record set by then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in 2021, who spoke for approximately eight and a half hours to delay a similar domestic policy package proposed by Democrats.

As the clock ticks down to the July 4 deadline, all eyes are on the House to see whether Johnson's confidence translates into legislative success, or if unforeseen challenges will derail the passage of the GOP’s ambitious policy overhaul.