LOOP: Senate narrowly passes 'Big Beautiful Bill'

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 SENATE PASSES 'BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL' After a 27-hour marathon session, the Senate passed President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" in a narrow 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaker. The sweeping legislation now heads to the House, where Republicans vow to pass it by Friday. Here's what's inside.  READ HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS: 'PRAY FOR PEACE'  Alice Kisiya, a young Christian from Bethlehem, is fighting to preserve both her family's land and her people's legacy. "As long as the Holy Land is suffering," she told CatholicVote, "the whole world will suffer."  READ ILLINOIS ABORTIONIST SEEKS TO SILENCE PATIENT SUING HIM  An Illinois abortionist accused of botching a late-term abortion is asking a court to publicly expose the identity of the woman suing him and impose a gag order to silence her. "She never asked to be put in this position," the woman's attorney told CatholicVote yesterday.  READ UPENN TO APOLOGIZE FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS VIOLATIONS  The University of Pennsylvania agreed to revise its women's sports policies and adopt a biology-based definition of sex after a federal probe found it violated Title IX by allowing William (Lia) Thomas to compete in women's events. The school will also issue formal apologies to female swimmers.  READ RUBIO SHUTS DOWN USAID  Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday, ending decades of controversial foreign aid programs and transferring all oversight to the State Department. READ DAD JUMPS INTO OCEAN TO SAVE DAUGHTER  A Disney cruise took a frightening turn Sunday when a 4-year-old girl fell overboard, prompting her father to dive into the ocean after her.  READ   PRO-LIFERS URGE ACTION IN TEXAS  More than 100 Texas lawmakers and pro-life leaders are calling on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to add a bill targeting abortion pill trafficking to July's legislative session. Advocates warn that inaction could cost tens of thousands of unborn lives.  READ AD: PRIORITIZE FAITH, FAMILY & FINANCES  Taylor Frigon Capital actively manages portfolios designed for those who prioritize Faith, Family, and long-term stewardship. LEARN MORE BISHOP MOURNS IDAHO FIREFIGHTERS  After a deadly ambush killed two firefighters in Idaho, Bishop Peter F. Christensen of Boise called the attack a "profound loss" in a statement to CatholicVote, urging Catholics to pray, reject violence, and build a compassionate society. Read his full statement here. READ ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE RISING IN INDIA  Religious persecution watchdogs are sounding the alarm as attacks on Christians surge across India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government.  READ SO MUCH NEWS...  Here are the stories we couldn't fit in today's LOOP: •    The FBI announced plans to relocate its headquarters to D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Building. READ •    A new poll shows Republican pride soaring to 92% while Democratic pride plunges to a record low. READ •    Trump's second-term confirmations are off to a slow start.  READ AMERICAN BABY NAMES  When it comes to baby names, many families are looking beyond the popularity charts towards something deeper: legacy. We have the great names of the saints, but we also have great Americans who shaped our country with courage and character whose legacy we can continue. Here are some timeless American baby names for boys and girls.  READ CATHOLIC 101  As a mom of young kids, your visits with friends and family often consist mostly of interruptions from children, half-spoken sentences, and a lot of "sorry, give me a second." Blessed Is She, a community for Catholic women, is starting a Weekly Visit inspired by the Visitation: a 30-minute online gathering that includes Scripture, prayer, and presence.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today, the Church celebrates Saint Otto of Bamberg, the 12th-century bishop who baptized over 22,000 Pomeranians and established 11 churches. Known for his gentle preaching, monastic reforms, and reported miracles, he brought the Gospel to northern Europe with humility and zeal. READ DAILY PSALM  "The Lord hears the cry of the poor." (Psalm 34:7)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ LEGACY  When laws hinder the duty to worship God rightly, they chip away at the foundation of religious liberty the founders meant to preserve. This is the legacy of St. Thomas More — and the challenge facing us today.  READ & SHARE Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127