GUEST COLUMN, Tracey Mann, Big First Representative
On Nov. 5, 2024, 77 million Americans gave Washington, D.C. a mandate to get our country back on track. I voted to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, legislation that fulfills the priorities President Trump and I campaigned on, including making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, securing our borders, and reducing federal spending. This bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 215 to 214.
House Republicans delivered on our promise to America by saving taxpayer dollars, securing our borders, investing in our nation’s defense, promoting hard work and the American dream, and most importantly, preventing Kansans from seeing an average tax hike of $2,200 next January.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, eliminates taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest on American-made cars, and provides additional tax relief for seniors. The bill increases detention capacity for ICE, includes funding to complete the border wall, and invests in modern technology to assist with intercepting drugs and human smuggling at U.S. ports of entry. It invests $60 billion in strengthening the farm safety net by expanding crop insurance and updating reference prices, closes loopholes in the law that allow states to waive work requirements, and eliminates Biden-era green new deal programs estimated to cost taxpayers $4 billion.
These are the commonsense policy solutions that the Big First overwhelmingly voted for last November. I am hopeful the Senate will move quickly to get this bill over the finish line and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.
Rolling back far-left California environmental protections
California has no right to enact a ban on diesel-powered locomotives. The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) emissions regulation would force railroads to pay draconian compliance costs despite the money they’ve already invested in technology that reduces harmful emissions. It also ignores all the efforts the industry has put into developing and testing zero-emission locomotives.
I recently cosponsored H.R. 3194, the LOCOMOTIVES Act, which stops California from imposing burdensome regulations on trains operating across state lines. As railways continue to serve as a cost-effective and reliable means of transporting goods, California’s extreme green energy regulations will prevent most locomotives from operating within the state. This is just another example of California creating unreasonable emissions standards and ultimately increasing everyday costs for small businesses and hardworking families across the country. The last thing we need is California mandates for Kansas consumers and businesses.
Supporting our Veterans
Last week, in honor of Memorial Day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed several important bills to honor, support, and empower our nation’s veterans. I proudly supported legislation to expand veterans’ resources, improve accessibility at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disabled veterans, and simplify the process for filing benefits claims. Our veterans risked everything to defend our freedoms, and these bills reflect our commitment to serving them with the same dedication they showed our country. I remain deeply grateful for their service and continue to pray for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Supporting land grant universities and agricultural research
Last week, I reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral AG RESEARCH Act to support research at land-grant institutions like Kansas State University and Haskell University that strengthens the broader agricultural industry. Over the years, these universities have surpassed their original mission and now conduct cutting-edge research that supports food security around the globe. The U.S. sees a $20 return on every dollar we invest in agricultural research, yet funding for these institutions has declined in real dollars over the past two decades. This bill puts taxpayer dollars in places with a guaranteed return on investment and ensures America stays at the forefront of innovation in food, agriculture, and national security.
