1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

The Republican "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that recently passed the House poses a grave threat to millions of Americans by slashing critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP. However, Senate Democrats now have a powerful tool at their disposal to block this harmful legislation. By overturning the precedent set by the Senate parliamentarian, Republicans have opened the door for Democrats to challenge virtually any executive branch action through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This allows Democrats to force votes on resolutions disapproving of agency decisions, rules, waivers, and more. With only 30 senators needed to bring a CRA resolution to the floor, Democrats could repeatedly tie up the Senate in lengthy debates and votes. This obstructionist tactic, while unconventional, is now a viable path to prevent the draconian cuts proposed in the Big Beautiful Bill from becoming law. By consistently forcing ten-hour debates on CRA resolutions, Democrats can effectively grind Senate business to a halt until Republicans agree to abandon their attack on vital safety net programs that millions rely on. While an imperfect solution, weaponizing the CRA is a necessary response to Republican overreach. It creates leverage for Democrats to demand changes to protect Medicaid, SNAP, and other threatened initiatives. The American people deserve a functioning government that prioritizes their well-being over partisan agendas. Exploiting this parliamentary tool is now critical to upholding that principle and stopping legislation that would devastate vulnerable communities.