'They Want To Punish Success': Nick Langworthy Rips Into Democrats' 'Game Plan' For Big Beautiful Bill

During House floor debate, Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) spoke in support of the Big Beautiful Bill.

Transcript

00:00Mr. Speaker and thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I rise today in strong support of the rule to

00:05consider H.R.1, the one big beautiful bill, because the stakes for the American people

00:10could not be higher. We are rapidly approaching a fiscal cliff. If we do nothing, the Trump tax

00:16cuts, the most pro-growth tax reforms in generations will expire. That means higher taxes on nearly

00:23every American. That means a gutted child tax credit. That means small businesses losing the

00:29tools they need to survive and to thrive. That means less take-home pay for working families

00:34already that have been crushed by the Biden-era inflation. This isn't some hypothetical scenario.

00:40This is the Democrats' game plan. They want to raise taxes. They want to punish success.

00:46They want more people dependent on government and fewer people building independent lives.

00:52And Republicans will not let that happen. With H.R.1, we're stepping to lock in the

00:59Trump tax cuts permanently and to provide targeted new relief to the workers and to the families

01:04who keep this country running. Seniors, tipped workers, and those putting in overtime to get

01:10ahead. But Mr. Speaker, this bill also takes a critical step to protect and to strengthen

01:16Medicaid, a vital program for millions of Americans. And let me be very clear about something that

01:22we're, this isn't anything radical. We're restoring the same common sense work requirements

01:27that President Bill Clinton signed into law into the nineties, one of the most popular

01:31things he did. And back then, a Democratic president worked with a Republican Congress

01:36to say that if you're able-bodied and adult without dependents and you're receiving government

01:40assistance, you should be expected to work, train, or volunteer and participate in the economy.

01:46And ladies and gentlemen, it worked. Poverty dropped, employment rose, and millions of Americans

01:51moved from welfare to work and independence. But Democrats today have abandoned that model.

01:57They want permanent government dependency. They'll oppose any form of accountability.

02:01And they'll vilify anyone who dares to suggest that opportunity should come with responsibility.

02:07Well, Republicans are standing up for what works and what's right. And we're saying Medicaid must

02:12remain a lifeline for the truly vulnerable, children, seniors, the people with disabilities,

02:18and low-income parents. But for able-bodied adults without kids, yes, you should try to work,

02:23just like in the nineties, just like under President Bill Clinton. This isn't extreme.

02:28It's not partisan. It's proven policy that respects both taxpayers and lifts people up.

02:34Mr. Speaker, this bill delivers economic relief, fiscal sanity, and basic fairness. And it secures

02:40the future of our economy and our safety net. Let's choose the path that's been tested and proven

02:46to work. Let's approve this rule. Let's pass one big, beautiful bill. And let's get this

02:50country back on track. I yield back, Mr. Speaker.