One year ago this Fourth of July, President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law. When I was writing these tax cuts, I promised the president I could deliver this bill to his desk by July 4^th so our nation could celebrate the most transformational tax reform in our lifetime on the same day our nation marked its founding, and Republicans in Congress delivered. This year, as families across Southeast Missouri gather with family and friends to grill out and watch fireworks, they’ll do it with more money back in their pockets — where it belongs.

But a year later, it’s also worth remembering what almost happened instead. If Democrats had gotten their way, this year Americans would have faced the largest tax increase in American history, resulting in smaller paychecks, dwindling savings accounts, and lower tax returns. Every single House and Senate Democrat voted to increase every American’s taxes by an average of more than 20 percent. Let that sink in. That’s what was on the table, and that’s what Democrats voted for unanimously. But with Republicans delivering on our promise and passing the Working Families Tax Cuts, we not only avoided that catastrophe, but we passed the largest tax cut in American history.

Democrats have spent years lying about tax relief. First about the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and now about the Working Families Tax Cuts. Turn on the legacy media and you’ll hear them call it a giveaway to billionaires. But how many billionaires clock overtime hours? How many billionaires live off tips or Social Security?

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, if a family makes less than $73,000 a year, they are free from federal income tax. That’s not relief for the wealthy or Washington elites. That’s relief for the guy pulling 60-hour weeks to keep the mortgage paid. And Democrats voted against all of it — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, real relief for seniors, enhanced Child Tax Credit — you name it. Every single provision that Republicans fought for to help working families, Democrats refused to support. When they had the chance to stand with waitresses, factory workers, and retirees across Southeast Missouri and the rest of the country, they chose to stand against them.

Thankfully, clearer heads prevailed and one year later, the results speak for themselves. 97 percent of all tax filers got a tax cut this year. More than 7.5 million workers claimed No Tax on Tips, with an average deduction over $7,000 — and more than 90 percent of them made under $100,000. Nearly 29 million workers claimed No Tax on Overtime. Over 35 million seniors claimed the enhanced senior deduction, with an average deduction of more than $7,500. Nearly 40 million families claimed the permanently doubled Child Tax Credit I fought to secure. In total, families and workers have already claimed $82 billion in new individual tax relief this filing season that would not have gone back into their pockets if we didn’t pass the Working Families Tax Cuts.

Trump Accounts are another provision I’m incredibly proud of securing. Officially rolling out this July 4^th, more than 5.5 million children have already signed up to get a financial head start for their future. This revolutionary initiative is going to give the next generation a personal stake in the success of our nation’s economy. A child’s future shouldn’t depend on whether they grew up on a city block or a country road, and Trump Accounts will help make that a reality for kids all across the country.

One year in, the verdict is clear: these policies are delivering for working families. I fought to pass this legislation because Southeast Missouri families deserve more opportunity, more promise, and to keep more of what they earn, and I will keep fighting for those Americans as long as I represent them.