Promises made, promises kept

by Tom Cole

Last November, the American people gave their Representatives a mandate when they overwhelmingly voted for change. 77 million Americans made it very clear to us that they wanted a secure border, the resurgence of American energy dominance, lower taxes, a lethal military focused on warfighting instead of woke initiatives, and a more efficient federal government that roots out fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars – essentially the platform that President Trump ran on.
Now, less than six months into the new Trump Administration, the United States House of Representatives has already delivered on these promises by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This bill will secure our border and allow us to finally complete the border wall and hire more Border Patrol agents. It will unleash our domestic energy potential, which will not only lower costs but also create jobs and protect us from threats abroad – because energy security is national security.
It makes generational investments in America’s defense with nearly $150 billion in funding for the Pentagon – all of which will be used to further President Trump’s goal of peace through strength, not woke, DEI initiatives. 
The legislation also includes money for our brave and selfless service members’ quality of life, including housing, health care, and special pay.
By making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, the One Big Beautiful Bill will provide lasting tax relief to families, workers, and small businesses. This policy will protect the average taxpayer – not just the “top one percent” as Democrats claim – from a 22 percent tax hike. It also keeps President Trump’s campaign promises of not taxing tips, overtime, and interest on some auto loans.
Finally, despite the dishonest fearmongering campaign being pushed by my friends across the aisle, this legislation will strengthen, secure, and sustain Medicaid by reestablishing it as a program that provides vital healthcare to the most vulnerable Americans and stopping the subsidization of illegal immigrants and competent adults who are just choosing not to work. 
Put simply and clearly: this bill does not cut Medicaid, but instead roots out waste, fraud, and abuse within the program by establishing a work requirement for able-bodied adults with no dependents or elderly parents in their care. It is truly just a common-sense policy.
Now that the House has done its’ job, the Senate is up. So, in conclusion, I encourage my colleagues in the United States Senate to help this bill get to the President’s desk, as it is our job as elected officials to deliver the result the majority of Americans voted for.