Each month I want to provide you with regular updates about what’s going on in our nation’s capital and throughout the 4th District of Kansas. Here’s what happened in May.
House Passes One Big, Beautiful Bill The House passed the historic One Big, Beautiful Bill on May 22. I voted in favor of the bill because it is pro-family, pro-economic growth, pro-rural America and pro-worker. And importantly, the bill prevents the largest tax increase in American history.
The bill includes numerous positive, America First provisions that will improve the quality of life for all Kansans. The bill increases the Child Tax Credit, relieving families of the financial strains that come with raising children, and, at the same time, promoting family growth. Furthermore, the bill makes the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent, which means permanent tax relief for the farmers, small business owners and workers who felt the consequences of Bidenflation. If the tax cuts are allowed to expire at the end of this year, Kansas taxpayers will have to pay an average of $2,200 more in taxes. And the bill eliminates taxes on tips, one of President Trump’s key campaign promises. It also ensures that the no tax on tip policy is only available for service workers. Additionally, the bill includes an increased tax credit for seniors. Because of Senate rules, the bill cannot eliminate taxes on Social Security through this process, but the new provision is even better for seniors than no tax on Social Security.
As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee, I had the opportunity to provide insight on the tax provisions of the bill. Many of my legislative priorities were included in the legislation, including the immediate expensing of research and development and protecting American taxpayers and innovators from unfair foreign taxes. The immediate expensing of research and development is a pro-jobs provision because three-quarters of R&D expensing is spent on wages and salaries. The R&D provisions were widely bipartisan because Republicans and Democrats understand the importance of homegrown innovation, and they understand that it benefits small businesses the most.
Additionally, I advocated to protect Americans from paying disproportionate surtaxes with the Unfair Tax Prevention Act. Foreign nations impose these taxes under the guise of the OECD, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Biden administration unilaterally agreed to this international tax scheme that allowed other nations to define American tax policy, and Republicans are reasserting America’s authority over our own tax system.
Also included in the bill were other America First provisions, including resources to secure our border and strengthen our national security. The reconciliation bill provides funding for border wall construction, more Customs and Border Protection employees and improved technology to mitigate illegal border crossings. The bill invests $150 billion in national security for President Trump’s Golden Dome, the Department of Defense, improving the quality of life of our servicemembers and more. Importantly, it strengthens aviation safety by funding air traffic control technology.
The left has been promoting lies about the One Big, Beautiful Bill and the included extensions of the Trump Tax Cuts. When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed by Congress in 2017, those on the left said that it would only give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, but that’s far from the truth. The New York Times even admitted that in a 2019 article, stating, “The gap between perception and reality on the tax cuts appears to flow from a sustained–and misleading–effort by liberal opponents of the law to brand it as a broad middle- class tax increase,” and, “there is little disagreement on this core point: Most people got a tax cut.”
Democrats’ loudest claim is that Republicans are cutting Medicaid and safety net programs, but it is simply not true. Republicans are strengthening Medicaid by rooting out the waste, fraud and abuse within the program and ensuring that able-bodied citizens don’t siphon away resources from those in need. A vote in favor of this bill was a vote to make sure that Americans who need Medicaid and other programs have it now and in the future.
The left also claims that this bill will have a significant cost, citing numbers from the Congressional Budget Office – Congress’ scoring agency that was wrong about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (it has beaten their revenue expectations) and the Democrats’ misnamed Inflation Reduction Act (which costs more than their projections). With conservative GDP growth – growth in our economy – that is actually in line with historic growth under both Trump and Biden, the legislation won’t have the costs that Democrats claim.
The bill now heads to the Senate. It began in the House because Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution requires all bills for raising revenue to originate in the House of Representatives. The next step in the reconciliation process is for the Senate to review the bill and apply the “Byrd Rule,” a parliamentary rule that ensures the legislation is budgetary in nature. The One Big, Beautiful Bill is one step closer to being signed into law by President Trump.
Republicans in both chambers of Congress are working to enact President Trump’s priorities into law so that Americans do not face higher taxes, the border will be secure and energy costs will decrease. On the other hand, every House Democrat voted against no tax on tips, no to an expanded Child Tax Credit, no to an expanded tax deduction for seniors and no to permanent tax cuts.
Trade Deals with the U.K. and China The United States reached a historic trade deal with the United Kingdom on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The deal promotes fair trade, American interests and economic security.
Specifically, the trade deal is beneficial to American farmers, like the ones here in Kansas, because it increases access to American exports of beef, ethanol and other agricultural products. Furthermore, it promotes trade between the U.S. and the U.K., allowing for new job growth here in the United States.
In addition, the president reached a historic trade agreement with China in May. China agreed to rescind their retaliatory tariffs and non-tariff countermeasures against the United States. Farmers, workers and manufacturers in the Sunflower State will benefit from this trade deal that seeks to level the economic playing field for Americans.
I’m glad that President Trump is committed to putting America first, and the trade deals with the U.K. and China are evidence of providing greater market opportunities for the American people.
E15 Waiver
I was pleased to see that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waived the sale of E15 gasoline (gasoline with 15% ethanol), providing consumers with more choices at the gas pump and Kansas farmers with more certainty. Not only will the EPA’s action benefit Kansas ethanol producers, but it will promote American energy independence.
I’m also a cosponsor of the House legislation that makes E15 gasoline available yearround – the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. Kansas farmers, drivers and producers all deserve more choices, certainty and economic opportunities.
Border Update
Ever since President Trump took office, America’s borders have been more secure. In May, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection released border data from April 2025. Their data shows that southern border apprehensions are down 93% compared to April 2024, from 128,895 to 8,383. In the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, ICE removed 65,682 criminal, illegal aliens from the United States, making our communities safer.
The last four years under Biden’s leadership were characterized by a willful neglect of the law, which led to a crisis at the southern border. Our national security was put in jeopardy by the Democrats and their dangerous catch-and-release policy. President Trump ended catch and release and rightfully declared a national emergency at the southern border the day he took office. The flow of fentanyl and human trafficking at our border was a mess during the last four years, but today, Kansas is safer and more secure. Service Academy Nominations
Attending a Service Academy is a great honor, and most require a nomination from a federal representative. Young men and women from the 4th District who are interested in attending one of the United States’ prestigious Service Academies, including the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, are encouraged to apply at estes. house.gov/service. Applications are due Oct.1, 2025.
Connect with Me
Interested in receiving regular updates about what’s going on in Congress? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter at estes.house.gov and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my District Office in Wichita at 316-262-8992 if you have questions, concerns or need help with a federal agency.
Ron Estes, one of only a handful of engineers in Congress, worked to improve systems and operations in the aerospace, energy and manufacturing sectors before representing Kansas’ 4th Congressional District beginning in 2017. He is a fifth-generation Kansan, former state treasurer, and serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, Budget Committee and Joint Economic Committee. He is the chair of the Social Security Subcommittee and co-chair of the House Aerospace Caucus.
