By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
House Speaker Mike Johnson returned to his home district this week to highlight a newly signed federal law he says will reshape the economy and provide major tax relief for working families. The legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” was recently signed into law by President Donald Trump and includes sweeping changes to tax policy, defense funding, and federal spending programs.
Johnson’s July 30 visit marked his first public appearances in Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District since the start of Congress’s summer recess. His tour began at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston and continued through Monroe before concluding in Bossier City, where he met with local leaders, business owners, and constituents.
Now officially law, the bill makes permanent the 2017 tax cuts and introduces new exemptions that exclude tips and overtime pay from taxable income. Johnson said these provisions are designed to ease financial burdens on middle- and working-class Americans while encouraging economic growth.
“It’s going to make the economy take off,” Johnson said.
In addition to tax reform, the legislation includes increased funding for national defense and border security, which supporters argue will strengthen both the economy and public safety. Johnson described the measure as one of the most comprehensive and consequential budget reforms in recent history.
However, the law also reduces funding for federal entitlement programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the law will add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Critics have voiced concern over the potential impacts on vulnerable populations, but Johnson has stated that the cuts are targeted at eliminating waste and fraud, not reducing services for those who truly need them.
“Only people who will lose Medicaid are those “gaming the system”, said Johnson.
At a press conference held at the Bossier Parish School for Technology & Innovative Learning, Johnson also connected the new law to local goals, including workforce readiness and community development. With the legislation now enacted, Johnson said he plans to continue engaging with constituents to explain its provisions and ensure its benefits are widely understood across the district.