U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) issued a statement following the U.S. House’s passage of H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with a narrow vote of 215-214-1.
“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,” said Rep. Bresnahan. He emphasized that the bill secures the Trump tax cuts, provides relief to small businesses, and ends certain Biden-era tax breaks benefiting large corporations.
The legislation includes provisions that benefit service industry workers, overtime workers, and retirees by eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay and allowing deductions for American-made auto loan interest. “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,” Bresnahan stated.
Key elements of the bill include making permanent the 2017 pro-worker tax cuts, doubling the Child Tax Credit, providing additional tax relief for seniors, and removing taxes on auto loan interest.
Beyond tax reforms, the bill allocates over $140 billion for border security enhancements and $12.5 billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization. It also maintains protections for Medicaid and other social safety net programs while addressing waste and fraud concerns.
“Medicaid will be protected while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent prudently,” continued Rep. Bresnahan. He highlighted efforts to safeguard these programs from misuse by enforcing stricter eligibility checks and work requirements for able-bodied recipients.
Rep. Bresnahan opposed reductions in healthcare funding levels for hospitals and nursing homes while supporting reforms aimed at reducing drug prices through PBM changes.
The Medicaid work requirement exempts several groups including minors under 18 or individuals over 64 years old, pregnant women, caretakers of dependents or disabled individuals, full-time students, disabled veterans, those with specific medical needs or conditions, SNAP beneficiaries, rehabilitation program participants, and inmates of public institutions.
This initial version of H.R. 1 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
