Representative William Keating: Responding to your message

 

August 21, 2025

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Despite its name, President Trump’s budget bill is far from beautiful and is instead an attack on the American people. This bill provides $5 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans by cutting federal funding for key programs that many families rely on to help make ends meet, all while adding an additional $3.4 trillion to the national deficit. 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts more than $1 trillion in funding to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leaving 15 million Americans, including 326,262 Massachusetts residents, without healthcare coverage. In the Ninth Congressional District, H.R. 1 puts 168,628 Medicaid recipients, the majority of whom are children and seniors, and 34,000 of our neighbors, friends, and family members receiving ACA coverage at risk of losing health insurance. Families receiving coverage under the ACA will see premiums increase an average of 105%, making health insurance financially inaccessible for millions. Many families will see even higher costs. For example, a 60-year-old couple living in our district with an annual household income of $85,000 will see their health insurance premiums increase 133%, an additional $10,000 in premiums.  

Medicaid is the largest source of funding for long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, and these cuts will have devastating effects on those who depend on the program to receive essential medical care, as well as their families. Family members will now need to forego employment and higher education, further reducing household resources, to care for elderly and disabled relatives. By forcing Americans out of the workforce and preventing them from increasing their earning potential through education, the Republican budget bill will keep countless families trapped in a cycle of poverty. The domino effect of this bill is endless.

In addition to cutting healthcare access for millions, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts nearly $200 billion from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although SNAP helps 40 million Americans -- including 110,000 people in our district -- make ends meet, the Republican budget bill puts more than five million Americans at risk of losing these crucial benefits, including 800,000 children and over 500,000 elderly and disabled adults.

While removing critical lifelines for millions of hardworking families, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides significant tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Everyone should pay their fair share, but H.R. 1 provides an average annual tax cut of $308,763 for the top 0.1%, while increasing costs for middle-class Americans. 

As costs continue to increase for everyday Americans, we should be working to help those facing difficult times, not adding to their burden. This is why I voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act when it was brought to the House floor and have consistently advocated for legislation to increase funding for and expand access to programs that help families make ends meet, including H.R.793, the SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025. This bill would repeal the 50% shelter cap deduction used to calculate SNAP benefits, allowing greater benefits for families who are severely cost burdened. Additionally, I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 3069, the Medicare for All Act, which would create a national health insurance program to provide comprehensive benefits to every American and cover all medically necessary services and items, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, and long-term care. 

I am appalled at my Republican colleagues for voting to pass this despicable bill. The tax burden created by H.R. 1 to provide tax cuts to some of President Trump’s richest friends should not fall on the backs of middle-class Americans. This legislation will harm the lives of millions, which is why I remain committed to supporting legislation that will undo the provisions of H.R.1 that cut funding for essential programs to only further line the pockets of the wealthiest Americans.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding this or any other matter of concern. Additionally, you may find my website ( www.keating.house.gov ) to be a useful resource for keeping up with my work in Washington and the Ninth District of Massachusetts. 

Sincerely,

William R. Keating
Member of Congress