Arizona Republican admits sleeping through vote on massive bill: ‘It’s embarrassing’

PHOENIX – Arizona U.S. Rep. David Schweikert confirmed that he missed this week’s House vote on a massive bill central to President Donald Trump’s agenda because he fell asleep.

“It’s embarrassing,” the northeast Valley Republican told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday.

Schweikert, chair of the Joint Economic Committee, said he’d been negotiating the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for “36 straight hours” before going down the hall to change his shirt early Thursday.

“Next thing I know, I’m holding a cup of coffee and my phone is ringing saying the vote is on. I’d fallen asleep,” he said.

He raced back to the House floor, but it was too late.

“You had a member vote present, meaning the vote went up one vote to pass, and they threw the gavel as I walked in the door. And I’m here waving my arms,” he said.

Schweikert then went to the clerk to report how he would have voted.

Bill passes without Rep. David Schweikert’s vote

The bill passed 215-214 despite two Republicans joining Democrats in voting against it and two others, including Schweikert, missing the vote. Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York missed it after dozing off in the back of the chamber, according to Speaker Mike Johnson.

Schweikert said Johnson was forgiving about his untimely nap.

“Speaker was very kind to me in his press conference. He explained I had been one of the negotiators going almost 36 hours straight and they threw the gavel right at the very end of the clock,” the eight-term Arizona Republican said.

Schweikert warned that the bill still has “miles and miles to go” before crossing the finish line.

“The Senate’s going to recraft it; they’re going to send it back,” he explained. “We’ll have another vote, probably, to send it to conference committee. … Then we’ll send it back to each body to be voted on the conference committee report, and then there will be another vote … (on) its final read. We still have a lot of work to do.”

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