Meuser and Bresnahan vote for the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

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.

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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.”

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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.