WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. on Thursday said they each voted for the reconciliation package known as The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 215-214-1.
“I believe we were elected to work with President Trump to improve our country — to improve our national security, strengthen our economy, bring fiscal sanity to our budget, deliver accountability, and lead the world toward peace,” said Rep. Meuser, R-Dallas. “And frankly, to bring back common sense so people start trusting the government again. That’s what this Big Beautiful Bill is about.”
Rep. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, said, “This package is a win for working families, small businesses, and anyone tired of Washington stacking the deck against the working-class people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It locks in the Trump tax cuts, delivers real relief to mom-and-pop shops, and ends the Biden-era tax breaks that reward big corporations and send our tax dollars to special interests in China.”
Meuser said the bill is designed to fortify our now-secure border, responsibly grow our domestic energy supply, and create more opportunity for all Americans.
“It gives small businesses the kind of tax environment and certainty they need and deserve — not one where they’re slammed by massive tax increases,” Meuser said. “Passing this bill will increase production so supply better meets demand, thereby reducing inflation. And with lower inflation comes lower interest rates, which leads to greater investment and more American production.”
Rep. Meuser said the “Big Beautiful Bill” is just the beginning.
“It sets the stage to make our country as great as it should be and deliver the America First agenda that we were elected to implement.” Rep. Meuser said. “This legislation includes key Trump Administration priorities — it eliminates tax on tips and overtime, expands the Child Tax Credit, and establishes savings accounts for newborns.”
Rep. Meuser said the bill also extends key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are vital to small businesses and manufacturers — making permanent immediate R&D expensing, 100% bonus depreciation, and permanently expands the Section 199A small business deduction to 23%.
On the border, Rep. Meuser said this legislation strengthens existing enforcement by providing the statutory authority needed to sustain and expand current operations. He said it funds the completion of physical barrier, funds 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers, 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and provides $10,000 retention bonuses to Border Patrol and ICE agents. Rep. Meuser said the bill ensures that effective border security resources are available to law enforcement and it also invests nearly $144 billion to modernize our military and strengthen national defense.
Rep. Meuser added that the legislation also implements policies to reestablish American energy dominance by incentivizing increased domestic production.
“It does so by reinstating quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales, as well as streamlines the permitting process for energy infrastructure,” Rep. Meuser said. “Further, it ends costly mandates, repeals billions in wasteful subsidies tied to ideological policies, reverses EV mandates, and restores consumer choice.”
And despite Democrat claims, Rep. Meuser said the bill, in fact, strengthens and sustains Medicaid benefits for those who truly need them.
“It removes ineligible recipients and illegal immigrants from the program and implements work requirements — 80 hours per month through work, education, training, or community service — for able-bodied adults without dependents.” Rep. Meuser said.
He said it includes provisions derived from Rep. Meuser’s bill — H.R. 1533, the PIIA Reform Act — which requires CMS to verify eligibility against the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File and for states to reduce payment error rates.
Finally, Rep. Meuser said the Big Beautiful Bill delivers $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings — the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years.
“It reins in wasteful spending, while advancing pro-growth policies to put the nation on a stronger path forward,” he said.
Rep. Bresnahan issues statement
Rep. Bresnahan said there is “a lot of misinformation floating around” about the bill.
“And I would like to correct the record,” Rep. Bresnahan said. “I can assure you, I am working each and every day to protect Northeastern Pennsylvanians and their benefits.”
Rep. Bresnahan went on to say, “First and foremost, there are no cuts to Medicare or Social Security in the reconciliation package. I am committed to protecting social safety net programs and the people who need them most. Throughout this reconciliation process, I successfully negotiated with my colleagues, with leadership, and with the White House to block any proposals attempting to lower the provider tax or FMAP percentages. Every American citizen who is eligible for Medicaid will continue to receive those benefits.”
Rep. Bresnahan said the tax cuts in the package are a win for working families and middle-class America, preventing the largest tax increase in American history.
“It doubles the Child Tax Credit, includes new policies for no taxes on tips and no taxes on overtime, and includes additional tax relief for seniors,” he said. “This legislation is about taking care of Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rep. Bresnahan offered additional statistics and points:
• Yesterday, the highest tax rate was 37.1%. Tomorrow, and with this bill, the highest tax rate will still be 37.1%. There are no tax cuts for billionaires.
• The bill’s Medicaid work requirement exempts the following groups:
— Individuals under 18 or over 64.
— Pregnant women.
— Parents, guardians, or caretakers of a dependent or disabled individual.
— Full-time students.
— Disabled veterans.
— Individuals with medical needs, including: physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, mental health disorders; blindness; substance use disorders.
— Serious or complex medical conditions.
— Members of households receiving SNAP benefits.
— Individuals in rehabilitation programs.
— Inmates of public institutions.
“It also tells service industry workers, overtime workers and retirees that we’ve got their back by not taxing tips and overtime and allowing deduction for American-made auto loan interest,” Rep. Bresnahan said. “As someone who has run a family business and signed the front of a paycheck, I know how damaging tax hikes and red tape can be. This bill gives small businesses the certainty they need to grow and hire. This legislation is about taking care of Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rep. Bresnahan said the bill features significant tax wins, including:
• Makes permanent the 2017 pro-worker tax cuts and stops the largest tax increase in American history.
• Doubled the Child Tax Credit.
• No tax on tips.
• No tax on overtime.
• Additional tax relief for seniors.
• No tax on auto loan interest.
In addition to sweeping tax reforms, Rep. Bresnahan said the bill reinforces a secure border through over $140 billion in investments in technology, construction and additional front-line personnel, adds $12.5 Billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization, and includes critical protections for Medicaid and other social safety net programs. Rep. Bresnahan successfully fought to preserve essential support for these programs while rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.
“Medicaid will be protected while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent prudently,” continued Rep. Bresnahan. “During this process, I fought to protect social safety net programs from the waste, fraud, and abuse that have threatened their long-term solvency. By ensuring states are not using Medicaid dollars on illegal aliens, conducting more frequent eligibility checks and requiring work for able-bodied recipients (see exemptions below), we are securing Medicaid for those who truly need it.”
Rep. Bresnahan also opposed cuts to healthcare funding, defending both hospital and nursing home funding levels. He said he blocked proposals to lower the Provider Tax and FMAP percentages for the Medicaid expansion population.
Rep. Bresnahan said this legislation also included important PBM reform that will lower drug prices for all Americans.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.