In Nevada, the Committee held its hearing inside a 100-year-old family-owned manufacturing facility called YESCO. A company built by a British immigrant with a dream and a $300 loan. That story alone says a lot about what’s possible in this country.

But what really stuck with me were the stories of the individuals who showed up to testify.

Ms. Jones shared how she rose from poverty—one of 13 kids in her household—and rejected the path of government dependency. “I refused to let my circumstances define me,” she said. Instead, she chose personal responsibility, took a job at Citibank, and fought her way toward financial independence. When I asked if she wanted to keep more of what she earned, her answer was clear: “I want to keep my money. I want to see other people do the same thing I did.”

That’s what the One, Big, Beautiful Bill is about: restoring dignity through work, not dependency.

I also spoke with Mr. Rona, a waiter like I once was. He and his wife both work in restaurants. Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, they’ll keep an extra $5,000 next year thanks to the No Tax on Tips provision. When I asked if that’s real money to him, he didn’t hesitate: “That’s real money.” Money they can use to pay bills, invest in their future, or simply breathe a little easier.

And YESCO’s own Mr. Byington said it best: “The harder you work, the harder you can rise. Sky’s the limit.” That company, like so many others across America, doesn’t just make products, it creates opportunities. It rewards effort. It puts family first.

The government didn’t build that. People did. And they deserve to keep more of what they’ve earned.

Click here to watch my full remarks.

There, we heard from men like Mr. Huff, who started picking up trash at age 15 and now owns several convenience stores and a software company.

When I asked him what he does with the extra money his business keeps due to lower taxes, he said what I’ve heard time and again across East Texas: “We reinvest. We grow. We hire more. We keep the economy going.”

That’s how prosperity spreads: not through government handouts, but through risk-taking, reinvestment, and hard work.

We also heard from Mr. Fulton of Robinson Helicopter, a fully American-made manufacturing company that builds helicopters used in wildfire response and military operations.

He explained that tax relief doesn’t just help his business, it benefits employees, suppliers, and the entire American supply chain. “The No Tax on Overtime provision directly helps our workforce,” he said. “When we have more predictability, we grow.”

At the end of my remarks, I quoted President Reagan: “Let history say of us, these were the golden years, when the American Revolution was reborn, when freedom gained new life, and America reached her best.”

During a recent visit to Kilgore, I had the opportunity to meet with local oil and gas leaders affiliated with the Energy Workforce and Technology Council. We toured Ranger Energy Services’ impressive operations, where the conversations centered on two critical issues: cutting through burdensome red tape and clearing LNG takeaway barriers that continue to stall economic growth and opportunity.

What I heard in Kilgore echoes what we’ve heard across the country—from Nevada to California: Hard work should be rewarded, not regulated out of existence. These companies are innovating, creating jobs, and driving our economy forward—yet Washington keeps making it harder, not easier, to do business.

Here in East Texas, we have the talent, the resources, and the work ethic to lead. What we need is a federal government that steps aside and allows our communities to do what they do best: build, grow, and lead.

While in town, I also visited the East Texas Oil Museum to thank their team for preserving and sharing our region’s incredible history. I still remember my very first visit there as a fourth grader—especially the elevator ride below the earth’s surface. It was my first glimpse into how vital the East Texas oil patch has been to our nation’s progress.

That legacy continues today—and I’ll keep fighting to ensure its protected, honored, and carried forward.