To the Editor,

On Independence Day, President Trump celebrated our country with a historic win for the American people: he signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law.

I was honored to play such a pivotal role in the development of this legislation as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy, trade, Medicare, and more. The committee traveled the country, including holding an official hearing in Kimball, Minn. We heard the American people loud and clear and developed a recommendation to deliver for families, farmers and small businesses like those in Minnesota’s Seventh District. The people spoke, and we listened. Critics of the bill continue to spread misinformation about the bill, but the truth is there are many great things in the OBBB.

First and foremost, the One Big Beautiful Bill is good for all Minnesotans, not billionaires like many are falsely claiming. It extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts and avoids a 24 percent tax hike for Minnesotans. 

Do not be fooled by the misinformation coming from those who voted against these critical tax provisions. This bill is not tailored to billionaires, and it does not take Medicaid away from those who need it. The average income in Minnesota’s Seventh District is $70,000. That income bracket is going to pay 13.1 percent less in taxes. Those making less than $50,000 will pay 16.5 percent less. These cuts are for every American. With regard to Medicaid, I want to be very clear that we are not cutting Medicaid for those who are eligible. This legislation simply works to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the program, something the majority of Americans support. For example, it stops 1.6 million people from being improperly enrolled in multiple states at the same time. It makes sure individuals who are no longer eligible are no longer enrolled. And it establishes basic work and/or community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents or dependents older than high school age. That means that, even if you don’t go to “work” in the traditional sense, you could be volunteering in your community or attending school to receive these benefits. These are common-sense ways for the government to protect the Medicaid program so it goes to those who need it, like children, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. It also creates a “Rural Transformation Program” to provide $50 billion through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for state investments in rural health and support for rural providers and it expands access to home and community-based services.

This bill is good for seniors. It adds a new $6,000 deduction for those over 65 years of age.

This bill is good for small businesses. It cuts through unnecessary red tape and makes the 199A small business tax deduction permanent. It also doubles the small business expensing limit to $2.5 million so they can grow and invest in their operations.

And, this bill is good for farmers. Several provisions from the Farm Bill are included in the OBBB. Programs are seeing a much-needed $66 billion in increased funding. Over $50 billion was provided to Title I Commodity programs, which will bolster reference prices for several commodities, building a strong agriculture industry. The bill also increases crop insurance subsidies, providing our farmers with a robust safety net, essential for producing our nation’s food supply. Lastly, trade promotion programs would get additional support to strengthen trade relations and increase market access and development. These provisions make it easier for farmers to pass down their life’s work to the next generation without facing high transfer taxation costs by making the Death Tax exemption permanent and raising the amount to $15 million.

If you have any questions about what the One Big Beautiful Bill really means for you and your family, or if my office can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my team at Fischbach.house.gov or (320) 403-6100. 

Rep. Michelle Fischbach

US Representative