Congressional statements on House vote

U.S. Senator Andy Kim

“I strongly condemn the votes of Reps. Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith that will hurt countless New Jersey families.

“Tom Kean Jr. broke his promise and voted to continue the SALT tax cap for another decade instead of just letting the cap expire this year.

“Jeff Van Drew said he wouldn’t support cuts for Americans eligible for Medicaid but then just voted to gut care for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans.

“Chris Smith represents a large senior population in our state that I represented in the House for four years and that I know can’t afford these painful cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

“The passage of Trump’s Big Disastrous Bill is a disappointing display of cowardice and a betrayal of the American people. Let it sink in: they chose tax cuts for billionaires at the expense of the health, safety, and prosperity of the people who they represent.”

Congressman Josh Gottheimer

“Trump’s Tax Hike bill is a complete debacle for New Jersey, for our families, our children, our veterans, and our seniors. This is not the Big Beautiful Bill — it’s the Big F’ed Up Bill.

‘Trump’s Tax Hike bill will gut health care for seniors, take food away from hungry children, and send utility bills soaring. It will strip critical federal dollars from our State, and leave Jersey to pick up the tab. It will mean a new $3,300-per-year Trump Tax Hike on Jersey’s hardworking families — all while adding a staggering $3.3 trillion to the national debt. This bill is an immoral travesty that will send our country off the fiscal cliff.

‘It makes the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and threatens to rip care away from more than 12 million people. Many hospitals and nursing homes could be forced to close, while seniors will be thrown off their health care and tossed out of nursing homes. Two-thirds of seniors in nursing homes rely on Medicaid.

‘This bill makes the largest cut to food assistance in history — literally snatching food out of the mouths of hungry children. It’s completely heartless.

‘If that wasn’t bad enough, at a time when utility bills are already through the roof, this bill slashes energy supplies, including new clean energy, jacking up utility costs by $110-a-year for American families. At the same time, it gives massive tax breaks to Big Oil, coal companies, and gun manufacturers.

“Trump’s Tax Hike bill is a direct assault on Jersey families, their pocketbooks, their health, and their futures.”

Congressman Donald Norcross

“I voted an emphatic ‘NO’ on President Trump’s Big Ugly Bill to rip healthcare and food assistance away from millions of seniors, veterans, and working families.  This bill marks the largest cuts to healthcare and food assistance in American history, and people will die as a result of this catastrophic legislation. Seventeen million Americans stand to lose their health insurance, 42 million could lose their food benefits, and countless Americans will lose their jobs. In America, we’re supposed to stand up for one another, not kick people when they’re down. This bill is a betrayal of our most fundamental values: freedom, compassion, and basic human decency.”

Congresswoman Nellie Pou

“This is a shameful day for the U.S. Congress.  Having served as a legislator for almost 30 years, this may be the worst piece of legislation I have ever voted on. This bill will slash Medicaid and steal health care from 17 million Americans. This bill will cause hospitals and nursing homes to close and make health care more expensive for everyone. This bill will lavish trillions on the wealthy and give painfully little to the middle class in what may be the biggest upward transfer of wealth in U.S. history. This bill will likely lead to tax hikes by dropping huge financial losses on states leading them to raise costs. This bill will cost $4,000,000,000,000.00. This bill will add trillions of dollars to our national debt. This bill slaps New Jerseyans in the face by refusing to remove the state and local tax deduction cap, a cap which would have expired this year if no action was taken. This bill was produced in the dead of night with virtually no debate, no discussion, no analysis, and no regular order and then rammed through before anyone could actually read it. In short, this so-called Big Beautiful Bill is cruel, dangerous, and ugly and I proudly voted against it.”

Congressman Herb Conaway, Jr.

“Congressional Republicans made history today, but for all the wrong reasons. They have just passed legislation representing the largest transfer of wealth from the poorest Americans to the richest billionaires in our nation’s history. This bill is one of the most harmful pieces of legislation we’ve ever seen, and it will result in the loss of American lives.

“They’ve slashed vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP—all to fund a billionaire bailout. The Republican Party sold out the American people long ago, choosing loyalty to Trump over duty to the country.

“It is my sincere hope that the American people now see clearly: Republicans are willing to harm middle-class families to help billionaires. That truth must drive action next November. The anger and frustration people are feeling today must carry into the voting booth, because only then can Democrats begin to reverse these cruel policies and hold this Administration accountable.

“We need Americans to vote like their lives, their neighbors’ lives, and their children’s lives depend on it—because, tragically, they do.”

Congressman Christopher Smith

“Today, I voted for and the House passed legislation to secure our economy, the border, and the future for all American families. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill provides the largest tax cut in American history, provides much need funds to build the wall and enforce immigration laws, and invests in America’s Armed Forces starting with $9 billion for servicemember pay to ensure we can meet the threats of the 21^st Century.

“This bill reforms Medicaid by targeting rampant abuse, through modest work, study, or volunteer requirements to prevent fraud, allowing more taxpayer dollars to be spent on those the program was intended for—including pregnant women, low-income families, individuals with disabilities, and New Jersey’s seniors, who will not lose their benefits.

“The significant tax reform and pro-growth policies in H.R. 1 will unleash new investments in America, spurring jobs and wage growth back home to restore our competitive edge on the world stage.”