Originally published by The Carolina Journal
For years, Washington has made promises it failed to keep: to secure our border, cut wasteful spending, and restore accountability to a bloated federal bureaucracy. The One Big Beautiful Bill changes that. It is more than just legislation. It’s a bold, pro-worker, pro-taxpayer, pro-America First reset of our priorities as a nation.
At its core, this bill respects the people who get up early, stay late, and work weekends to provide for their families. In addition to no tax on tips, one of its most important provisions is the elimination of federal taxes on overtime pay. If you’re working extra hours, you shouldn’t be punished with a higher tax bill. You should be rewarded. North Carolinians know the meaning of hard work; and now, Washington has finally taken notice. A typical family of four will see $7,200 to $12,200 in higher take-home pay, with long-run annual wages in North Carolina increasing by about $5,500 to $10,500.
Seniors also get a tax cut on their Social Security benefits. Small businesses and family farms receive tax relief as well, and there are now permanent incentives for businesses of all sizes to invest in the American economy.
This bill rolls back reckless energy policies that have driven up costs for North Carolinians and threatened our economy. It cuts off massive corporate subsidies for so-called “green new scam” projects and opens domestic sources of energy.
The bill makes us safer by boosting support for border security and immigration enforcement. There is funding to finish the wall, hire more border patrol agents, and assist with the deportation of criminals.
We also took a hard look at waste in taxpayer-funded health and nutrition programs — not to “cut” benefits, as some on the left falsely claim, but to preserve it for the truly needy. Seniors, people with disabilities, and children deserve a safety net they can count on. Able-bodied adults with no dependents should work, train, or volunteer. That’s not radical. It’s common sense. It restores the dignity of work and ensures that assistance is targeted where it’s needed most.
This bill doesn’t fix every problem. But it marks a turning point. It declares that Washington will no longer operate on autopilot. That taxpayers come first. That work is something to be respected, not penalized. That government can be leaner, smarter, and more accountable to the people who pay its bills.
I’m proud that the Freedom Caucus led the charge to pass this legislation. It proves that real conservative governance is possible. Not just rhetoric, but results.
To every North Carolinian who felt ignored, overtaxed, or let down by Washington, this Big, Beautiful Bill is for you.
Congressman Mark Harris represents North Carolina’s 8th District and serves on the House Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and Agriculture committees.