WASHINGTON - The White House is celebrating the Senate Budget Committee's passage of the Republican tax plan, which will advance the sweeping tax package to the full Senate.

  

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Tuesday that President Donald Trump is applauding the committee for "taking an important step toward passing historic tax relief and reform and clearing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act this afternoon."

  

She says the president "looks forward to providing tax cuts for hardworking Americans by the end of the year."

  

The committee voted 12-11 to advance the bill. GOP leaders hope to have the full Senate take it up later this week.