July 11, 2025

Weekly Update

The Biggest Wins of the One Big Beautiful Law

In case you missed it, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Trump last week. Below are some of the most important provisions:

Providing tax relief and promoting economic growth

At its core, the law provides substantial tax relief and fuels economic growth by making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent—shielding the average Third District taxpayer from a 24 percent hike—while preserving lower tax rates and brackets. It increases the child tax credit to $2,200 starting in 2025 and eliminates taxes on tips and overtime pay, offering additional relief to working families. Pro-growth policies like full and immediate expensing and R&D write-offs are now permanent, giving businesses the tools to expand and hire.

Preventing waste, fraud, and abuse

To prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, the law strengthens the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by enforcing work requirements, blocking eligibility for illegal aliens, and reducing erroneous payments by states, saving billions. Medicaid is also strengthened for its traditional population by requiring able-bodied adults without dependents to work and implementing cost-sharing for those above the poverty line. These provisions ensure that our resources are reserved for those who truly need them like mothers, children, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.

Investing in our military

The bill makes historic investments in our military, allocating $9 billion to improve servicemember quality of life through better pay, housing, healthcare, and family support. It dedicates $21 billion to replenish munitions stockpiles, expand domestic production, and bolster missile defense. The bill also allocates $12 billion to enhance military readiness and infrastructure, while investing $7 billion to accelerate air superiority through next-generation aircraft and autonomous systems.

Securing our border

Border security receives a massive boost with $46.5 billion to complete 701 miles of primary wall and 900 miles of river barriers, expanding the border barrier system. An additional $4.1 billion is allocated to hire and train new Border Patrol agents, with $2 billion in retention and signing bonuses, and $6.1 billion is invested in advanced border security technology and screening systems.

Unleashing American energy

The law unleashes American energy by mandating robust onshore and offshore oil, gas, and coal leasing, reinstating canceled leases, and requiring new lease sales. It lowers royalty rates to incentivize production and reduce costs, while cutting wasteful Green New Deal-style spending and streamlining the development of critical energy infrastructure. These measures will lower utility bills and strengthen the electric grid.

Modernizing the national aviation industry and protecting Second Amendment rights

To modernize the nation’s aviation industry, the bill allocates $12.5 billion to overhaul failing air traffic control systems, ensuring safer and more efficient skies. Finally, the Big Beautiful Bill Act enhances Second Amendment rights by eliminating the National Firearms Act (NFA) tax on suppressors and short-barreled rifles, hopefully paving the way for elimination of the NFA registry.

Serving the Long Gray Line

Today, I had the honor of being reelected to serve my eighth term as the Chairman of the Board of Visitors (BOV) at the United States Military Academy (USMA). It is the Board’s duty to provide independent advice and recommendations on institutional matters, as well as report to the President of the United States on all matters pertaining to USMA.

It is a privilege to have the continued opportunity to help ensure the Academy’s success while preparing future Army officers to lead, fight, and win in any potential future conflict.

The cadets at West Point, including the outstanding individuals who I nominated from Arkansas’s Third District, are some of the finest young men and women our country has to offer; and I am grateful to continue my work on the Board.

Photo Highlights

This week, I toured the Fort Smith Boys Home’s new location that doubles the number of boys they can serve from 12 to 24 boys, providing a home-like setting with modern amenities. This new building, which opened last week, marks a major milestone in the organization’s nearly 47-year mission of serving at-risk youth in the River Valley. Thank you to Executive Director Eddie Donovan for leading this expansion and inviting me to see it.

I received a briefing on the progress of the River Valley Slackwater Harbor project, which will enhance the capability and reliability of the Port of Fort Smith by expanding barge capacity and incorporating a flood-resilient design. The project is partially funded through a federal grant, with the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority (WAIA) and Van Buren-based Five Rivers Distribution serving as joint applicants. Thank you to Marty Shell, president of Five Rivers Distribution, for the informative update.

I toured W&W | AFCO Steel’s facility in Van Buren and discussed the company’s role in building safe and secure transportation projects across the country. As chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee, it’s my job to ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely and effectively to develop necessary federally funded roads, bridges, highways, railways and more.