[Pages S4265-S4266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       One Big Beautiful Bill Act

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to point out 
to the American people that the Republican plan for a safer, more 
prosperous nation has now been signed into law.
  And yet already this morning on this Senate floor, I heard the 
minority leader engage in fearmongering about this historic piece of 
legislation.
  Well, I am here to set the record straight. This is a historic 
triumph. This is a victory for working families all across America. It 
certainly includes the people of my home State of Wyoming.
  It is fitting that President Trump signed our bill into law on 
Independence Day, July 4. That is because the law is about independence 
for working families. It means independence from soaring prices, 
independence from high taxes, independence from foreign countries on 
which we have become dependent, and it comes from independence for 
American energy.
  This law is a direct attack on wasteful Washington spending. On 
Friday, I celebrated Independence Day in Cody, WY. It is the home of 
the world-famous Cody Stampede. I spoke with Wyoming families, Wyoming 
small business owners, Wyoming workers, Wyoming ranchers, talked about 
their lives and the impact of this legislation. Let me tell you, the 
people of Wyoming are very appreciative that this bill is signed into 
law.
  The law does what voters sent Republicans here to do, it cuts taxes, 
secures the border, finishes building the wall, unleashes American 
energy, and it restores peace through strength.
  Had Congress not passed the law, Americans would have seen their 
taxes go up cumulatively by $4 trillion. This was a vote against the 
largest tax increase in American history. Every Democrat in this 
Congress voted to raise taxes on the American people; Republicans 
prevented it.
  Wyoming would have been hit very hard if the Democrats had gotten 
their way. Wyoming families were staring down the barrel of a $1,700 
tax increase on Wyoming families, and 50,000 Wyoming small businesses 
would have seen their tax rates soar if the Democrats had their way.
  Mr. President, 10,000 family farms in Wyoming and ranches would have 
faced higher death taxes.
  Republicans stopped this highest tax rate rise in American history. 
We also cut tax: taxes on tips, taxes on overtime, taxes on Social 
Security. No tax on tips puts about $1,300 back into the pockets of 
waiters, barbers, bartenders. No taxes on overtime puts about $1,400 
back into the paychecks of nurses, firefighters, and police officers.
  Ten thousand Wyoming workers are going to be benefit from the no 
taxes on tips. Tens of thousands more will benefit from no taxes on 
overtime. Seniors will see more money at the end of each month because 
of a larger deduction. These are all things that were included in this 
bill that is going to help Americans all across the country.
  Republicans also expanded the child tax credit. That gives more than 
65,000 Wyoming families an extra $2,200 per child per year to help them 
pay their bills.
  Additionally, this law is a win for Wyoming's hard-working families 
and ranchers. Our farmers and ranchers--they work hard. They do in your 
State, Mr. President. They certainly do in Wyoming. They do all across 
the country. They work hard to keep their operations running strong. 
Today, they face growing challenges. The challenge has been growing 
dramatically over the last 4 years--rising costs as well as natural 
disasters, predators that attack livestock. Our law ensures future 
success for our farmers and ranchers.
  You know, in Wyoming, bears, wolves--they kill livestock. If they do, 
they are going to be compensated. If wildfires or droughts destroy your 
grazing land, you are covered by disaster assistance. If you invest in 
new equipment, you can fully expense up to $2.5 million to grow your 
business.
  Now, with the changes to the death tax, families can keep their land 
instead of having to sell it to pay off the IRS.
  Additionally, Republicans delivered for Wyoming and for the country--
energy. Our energy workers are the best in the world. This new law will 
unleash affordable, reliable Wyoming and American energy.
  In the past 4 years under Joe Biden, the Democrats wanted to keep 
energy in the ground. Prices of energy rose 31 percent. Why? Because 
they declared war not just on energy but on the people who power our 
country. Oil and gas, coal miners, uranium--all of those things have 
been under attack by the Democrats. They handcuffed energy producers. 
They buried energy projects in redtape. You couldn't get things 
started. They locked up our Federal lands.
  That has changed now as a result of our law and as a result of the 
elections. This law empowers States to produce more energy, and that 
certainly includes my home State of Wyoming and

[[Page S4266]]

your home State of Oklahoma. It unlocks 4 million acres of coal leasing 
within the next 90 days. It encourages increased coal production on 
Federal lands. It cuts redtape. It creates new opportunities for our 
energy producers, and it mandates oil and natural gas leasing in 
Wyoming and across the West. This creates jobs, it lowers costs, and it 
restores America's energy independence.
  Wyoming is America's energy breadbasket. We have the energy 
resources. Now we finally have the green light to unleash them.
  Additionally, Republicans have strengthened healthcare in rural 
America and especially in our rural communities. There is a rural 
hospital fund. This directly supports our Wyoming clinics and our 
hospitals. There is also a renewed push for breakthrough treatments and 
innovative care and cures. This is a lifeline for patients with rare 
diseases. It is all in this bill.
  With regard to Medicaid, there are now work requirements for 
Medicaid, as there should be, and the American people want that. Over 
70 percent of the people say: If you are going to be on Medicaid, you 
ought to be working to prove that you are not taking the Medicaid 
benefits away from the people whom they were intended for in the first 
place. If you are able to work, you need to work.
  These are just commonsense reforms under the law. Democrats voted 
against every single one of these commonsense reforms. What did 
Democrats vote for? Oh, continuing to give tax-funded healthcare to 
illegal immigrants. That is what Democrats are for--healthcare for 
illegal immigrants. Free.
  Democrats voted for continuing the waste, fraud, abuse, and 
corruption that weakens Medicaid. I practiced medicine in Casper, WY, 
for over 24 years. The changes in this law will strengthen Medicaid for 
the people who truly need it.
  I want to thank my colleagues from Wyoming, both Senator Cynthia 
Lummis--she led the charge on the Environment and Public Works 
Committee. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman made sure Wyoming's voice was 
heard in the House of Representatives. Because of their dedication, 
these Wyoming priorities are now part of the law.
  This is a turning point for our country. After 4 years of record-high 
prices and wide-open borders, the people of Wyoming are going to feel 
relief. They will feel it at the grocery store, the gas station, and 
when they pay their bills. They are also going to feel it when they 
file their tax returns.
  All of us Republicans made a promise to make America safer, stronger, 
and more prosperous. This law signed on the Fourth of July keeps that 
promise.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. McCormick). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.