The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in hardworking Americans, our national security and critical industries to keep our country safe and prosperous. I was proud to support this landmark legislation for all those benefits as well as its vital support for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Keeping strong American leadership on the global stage requires a dedicated commitment to our defense –– especially the brave men and women who support these efforts both at home and abroad. The One Big Beautiful Bill directly invests in enhancing warfighting capabilities. That includes modernizing our industrial base, expanding the size and capabilities of our naval fleet as well as replacing out-of-date systems and accelerating technological initiatives. 

We have also ensured that those who have worn our nation’s uniform and their families can receive the highest quality care and support possible, including by allocating $9 billion to improve housing, healthcare, childcare and education resources.

Arkansas plays a critical role in supporting our national defense, and the bill’s investments will strengthen our efforts to enhance military readiness from Little Rock to Camden and Pine Bluff to Fort Smith –– a huge win for our state’s economy and prominent role supporting our defense.

National security also includes securing and controlling our borders. Failing to do so or enforce existing federal immigration laws puts Americans at risk, as the loved ones of Laken Riley and many more countless victims know all too well.

That is why we doubled down on border security efforts to maintain what is now the most secure border in American history, providing $50 million for the border wall as well as the necessary technologies to ensure operational control that protects our communities. And we focused on cutting off the flow of deadly narcotics such as fentanyl through our southern border. With approximately $6.2 million allocated for drug detection technology at our ports and increased resources to identify and remove drug traffickers, thousands of new border patrol agents are now empowered to not only secure the border but prevent this poison from infiltrating our nation.

This legislation also offers much needed relief and support to our energy and agricultural industries. 

It supports affordable and reliable American energy by slashing bureaucratic red tape and delivering energy producers new opportunities to create stronger rural grids and dependable baseload power. Robust support for domestic energy accelerates the development of critical technologies that will result in a competitive edge over China for domestic enterprises and innovators.

As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, I am especially proud we used this measure to assist farmers, ranchers and ag producers in Arkansas and across the country. We took their input and secured a modernized farm safety net to protect against market volatility and ensure families can continue their efforts, many of which are multigenerational, to keep growing the world’s food, fuel and fiber.

But perhaps the biggest priority that the Republican Congress worked with the Trump administration to achieve was saving the hard-earned income of working Americans from a massive tax increase as well as fraud, waste and abuse. Fortunately, we prevented a $4 trillion tax hike – the largest in history – which will help the average Arkansan keep an estimated $2,325 in their pocket through permanent lower tax rates and additional relief for working families and small businesses. This significant push to protect our country’s workers and seniors was well worth the effort.

From strengthening our military and borders to supporting American taxpayers and the industries they rely on, the One Big Beautiful Bill is a commitment to delivering for all Arkansans.