This overwhelming bipartisan support marks a dramatic reversal. For months, Republican leaders resisted the bill, dismissing it as partisan maneuvering. Yet over the weekend, President Donald Trump urged his party to back the measure, transforming what had been a contentious debate into near-unanimous passage. The lone dissent came from Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who argued that the bill represented political theater rather than justice.
The vote reflects more than just a legislative decision; it embodies the tension between secrecy and disclosure in American democracy. Survivors and advocates have long demanded transparency, insisting that the files hold answers about networks of abuse and complicity. By siding with disclosure, the House acknowledged the moral weight of those demands and the public’s insistence on truth.
Still, the path forward is uncertain. The bill now moves to the Senate, where Republican leaders have signaled they may seek changes that could delay or weaken its impact. Whether the measure becomes law will depend on whether the momentum of today’s vote can overcome institutional resistance.
In the end, today’s House action is historic not only for its near-unanimity but for what it represents: a rare moment when political calculation yielded to public pressure, and when survivors’ voices reshaped the priorities of Congress.