Dan O'Brien

Personal news: Today is my last day at the Washington Post after nearly 4 years. I'm so grateful for my time on the climate beat here alongside wonderful colleagues. Excited to share my next steps soon!

Exciting news this morning! The budget reconciliation “Big Beautiful Bill” has just passed out of the House! It has been a busy week Washington with meeting after meeting to get this bill to the floor. Although the bill is not perfect, it is a step forward. The lies and fear-mongering coming out of the media and the other side of the aisle regarding this bill must stop. Americans voted for change in the right direction last November and this bill does that. There are so many wins for Virginians including: ⁃Permanent middle-class tax cuts preventing a 22% tax hike and allowing families to keep more of their hard earned money ⁃Elimination of taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, & provides additional tax relief for seniors ⁃Strengthens and reforms Medicaid by cracking down on fraud, preventing wrongful disenrollments, and preserving access to care for those who qualify and need it the most. ⁃Provides stronger border security including completion of the border wall, hiring of thousands more frontline border personnel, and updating security technology. ⁃Secures robust funding for our national defense, ensuring that our military remains the most capable, ready, and well-equipped fighting force in the world. I would have liked to have seen a less aggressive phase out of the clean energy tax credits to protect jobs and investments which promote an all-of-the-above energy approach, but there is still time. This bill now heads to the Senate where changes can occur. Stay tuned for final passage over the next few weeks. Again- we have work to do still but this bill is step one….!