All four of Arkansas’ GOP Congressmen joined their Senate Republican counterparts in supporting a reconciliation bill that reflects President Donald Trump’s legislative priorities.
The measure, touted as “one big, beautiful bill,” cleared the House of Representatives Thursday (July 3) on a 218-214 vote after passing the Senate on Tuesday on a tie-breaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance. The bill now heads to Trump’s desk for signature ahead of a self-imposed July 4th deadline.
The bill continues tax cuts from Trump’s first term in office that were set to expire, while adding additional tax breaks for seniors and wage-earners who rely on tips and overtime. It also raises the U.S. debt limit by $5 trillion ahead of a forthcoming deadline.
There are a number of spending increases in the measure for the military and immigration enforcement. For farmers, the bill includes up to a 20% increase in the statutory reference prices for commodities. To offset overall costs, the Republican-backed bill makes cuts to Medicaid and other healthcare programs as well as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps.
According to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis, the bill raises the national debt by $4.5 trillion, while cutting nearly 17 million from their existing healthcare coverage, $185 billion from SNAP, and $1 trillion from Medicaid. It increases military spending by $49 billion and adds $56.7 billion in new spending for border security and more immigration personnel and technology.
“I’m proud to vote for this bill that delivers on the clear direction Americans gave us in November,” said U.S. Rep Steve Womack, R-Rogers, who presided over a lengthy portion of the House debate. “This legislation protects hardworking Arkansans and families across the country from tax hikes —making permanent key provisions that help you provide for your family while also strengthening our national defense and border security to keep us safe and prosperous at home. Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to usher in a new era of American prosperity, and this one, big, beautiful bill is a giant step towards that.”
“While I am not thrilled with every change the Senate made to the House-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill, it still delivers on many of the promises President Trump and Republicans made to Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro. “Today, I proudly voted to preserve the largest tax cut in history for working and middle-class Americans, bolster border security, and make a significant investment in U.S. national security. As the threat landscape facing the United States grows more dynamic, it is imperative that our men and women in uniform, both our armed forces and law enforcement, have the resources they need to detect, neutralize, and deter these threats. Additionally, our investment in our nation’s agriculture industry will provide much-needed relief for Arkansas farmers and set them on a path to long-term success. Bottom line: this legislation puts Americans in a safer and more prosperous position than they were before.”
“Effective policymaking focuses on real dinner-table issues that concern everyday Americans: gas prices, grocery bills, job opportunities, and children’s futures,” said U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs. “This reconciliation package delivers historic tax breaks to ensure that these individuals and families can afford to keep food on their table, invest in their children’s future, and keep the legacy of their family alive for years to come. House and Senate Republicans have secured a monumental win and delivered on their promise to the American people. I look forward to seeing this piece of legislation make its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”
OTHER OPINIONS
After months of negotiations, the passage of the bill drew praise and criticism from a variety of state and national sources.
The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said the act was “a massive fiscal capitulation” that was “dishonest and reckless.”
“This bill will be the most expensive reconciliation bill in history, adding $4.1 trillion to the national debt through 2034. If its temporary provisions are extended permanently, that total would rise to $5.5 trillion. Under the bill as written, the national debt would rise from 100 percent of the economy today to 127 percent by 2034,” CRFB said in a statement.
“Throughout this process, we have eroded the fragile norms that stop politicians from adding unlimited amounts to the national debt. Congress didn’t just increase the debt by $4 trillion – they engaged in a massive cover-up about it, and they forced the scorekeeper to do the same. What’s the point of budgeting at all, if you can just make up whatever numbers you want?” the group said. “Yes, the economy may well enjoy a sugar-high the next couple of years, as borrowing stimulates near-term consumption. But a sugar-high won’t be sustained, it will do real damage, and often what comes next is the crash. The longer-term health of our economy, American families, and our children will be worse off due to this debt-financed bill.”
The Arkansas Farm Bureau praised passage of the bill.
“Without the passage of a new farm bill, farmers and ranchers across the country have been left in limbo. The members of Arkansas’s Congressional delegation worked to include several key agriculture provisions in the reconciliation package, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These provisions are desperately needed to ensure farmers and ranchers are able to continue providing food and fiber for our country,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau president Dan Wright. “These recently passed provisions will provide much-needed relief. We will continue working toward a new farm bill or legislation that provides long-term stability to our farm economy.”
But the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said the bill will increase hunger and poverty in the state.
“We are disappointed in the House of Representatives’ passage of the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill, particularly so with Arkansas’s Congressional delegation. Our Senators and Representatives, in voting for this bill have condemned hundreds of thousands of Arkansans to increased hunger and poverty and poorer health,” said Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Executive Director Keesa Smith-Brantley. “Although the outcome was not what we wanted, I am confident our efforts will yield benefits in other ways. We have made a greater number of Arkansans more aware of how high the stakes can be when lawmakers take funding away from critical programs. We have activated community members around the state who might have otherwise stayed out of the conversation entirely. And we have honed a range of skills that will serve us well in the future. Of course, we will keep Arkansans updated on the implementation and impact of this bill.”
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