Iowa lawmakers back Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

The expansive piece of legislation called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act extends and adds to tax cuts passed in Trump's first term. It also increases spending in areas including defense and immigration enforcement while reducing spending in federal food assistance and health care programs.

Iowa's U.S. House delegation — Rep. Randy Feenstra, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Rep. Zach Nunn and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks — all voted in favor of the legislation, which passed Thursday on a vote of 218-214.

The vote moves the bill to the president's desk before the July 4 deadline Republicans had set for themselves and comes as Trump prepares to appear at the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off a year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Iowa's GOP House members said they voted for the bill in part because they were not willing to let tax cuts first passed in 2017 expire. Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa's 1st District, said the bill will make the United States more competitive.

"We're going to make sure that our borders are secure, that we are energy independent and energy dominant so we can keep pace and compete globally around the world economically," Miller-Meeks told Newsmax Thursday. "We're going to make sure that the American people don't have their taxes increased. That families know that they continue to have a doubling of the child care tax credit."

Nunn, from Iowa's 3rd District, said the bill strengthens national defense and reduces waste in federal programs.

Fourth District Rep. Randy Feenstra said the bill is key for economic growth.

"This bill will help our Main Street businesses grow, invest, hire, and increases the exemption for the death tax which will help save 2 million family farms," Feenstra said in a brief speech on the House floor early Thursday morning. "Additionally, this legislation fully funds the border wall, hires more ICE and border patrol agents and creates American energy independence."

Trump's election set the stage for the bill to pass, said 2nd District Rep. Ashley Hinson.

"Nearly 80 million Americans voted for this commonsense, conservative agenda, and I'm proud to work with President Trump to deliver a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America and Iowa," Hinson said.

Democrats and other opponents of the bill are condemning cuts the bill would make to Medicaid, the jointly run federal and state government health care program for low-income and disabled people.

The bill adds work requirements for many adults covered by Medicaid. With some exceptions, they would have to show they worked or volunteered at least 80 hours each month in order to continue their coverage.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said that could have an impact beyond those who lose Medicaid eligibility.

"You were told by rural hospital leaders they will have to close. You were told by workers it's a job killer. You were told by doctors and nurses it will raise costs and by families it will increase their electricity bills. You didn't listen," Hart said in a statement directed at Iowa's U.S. House members. "You went back on your promises. You betrayed your constituents. Now, you deserve to lose your job."

Overall, nearly 12 million Americans could lose health coverage as a result of measures in the bill, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

The cuts to Medicaid and other programs are not enough to fully offset other spending increases and the cost of extending and expanding tax cuts in the legislation. According to various estimates, the bill would add $3 - $4 trillion to the national debt.

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