WASHINGTON – House Republicans defended a bill that would enact sweeping tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling, and add restrictions to benefit programs during a heated marathon day of committee hearings on Capitol Hill.

Republican lawmakers are calling for work requirements, stricter eligibility verification and some co-pays.

A House Republican bill would require Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer or be enrolled in school for at least 80 hours a month.

WASHINGTON – House Republicans plan to enact work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid, according to a proposal released late on May 11 by a key GOP-led committee.

This bill is not going to become law in its current form, not least because President Trump won’t sign it,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told CNN Wednesday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is warning that cuts to Medicaid health care that Congress is considering would mean billions of dollars in lost federal aid to Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of people losing access to the program and more rural hospitals shutting their doors.

The Energy and Commerce Committee pulled an all-nighter debating the potential impacts of Republican proposals to change Medicaid, part of the GOP’s domestic policy megabill.

The Missouri Republican's support is crucial but contingent on preserving Medicaid, and he wants to first see what House Republicans can muster through their thin majority.