WEST PITTSTON — The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is “going to bring Pennsylvania roaring back and American manufacturing roaring back to life,” Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday afternoon to supporters at Don’s Machine Shop.
President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on July 4. The bill cleared the Senate 51-50 with Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
“This is a beautiful, great facility and a great business, and what it means to have a great American machine company right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania is a few things,” Vance said to a crowd of more than 300 mostly standing attendees. “First of all, it means that this facility employs people who are participating in the proud tradition of American manufacturing of making great big and beautiful things with American workers with Americans hands. And I know a lot of you participate in that work everyday.”
The law contains hundreds of provisions and includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. It permanently extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which were set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats have said the tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy and corporations.
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-8, Dallas Twp., joined Vance and U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler at the event at Don’s Machine Shop, which was founded in 1981 by Don Eifert. Don’s Machine Shop operates inside a 77,000-square-foot facility in West Pittston and employs more than 30 people to make machine parts for companies.
“West Pittston is full of small businesses, driven employees, and working-class families,” Bresnahan said in a statement released after Vance’s speech. “These tax cuts are putting more money back into their pockets. I want to thank Vice President Vance for visiting West Pittston today to highlight our community as a proud example of who stands to benefit from the working-class tax cuts we’ve enacted. In towns like West Pittston, this tax relief is making a real difference.”
In addition to the extending the 2017 tax cuts, the new law allows eligible workers to deduct up to $12,500 in overtime pay and up to $25,000 in tips.
“The mainstream media, the corporate press, doesn’t like what we accomplished. It doesn’t like what we did, but let me just talk a little bit about what this bill, about what’s this legislation means for you and your family,” Vance said. “And there are a few different things, a few different ways in which I think this will be transformational for the American people. … How many, Don, of your 36 employees are putting in a lot of overtime every single week? I bet a lot of them are. You told me you got projects coming in so fast, they’re struggling to get people in to just do all the jobs that are necessary. Well now, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, if you work overtime, the federal government is not going to take a dime of that overtime. You earned that money, you ought to keep it in your pocket.”
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler speaks during a visit from Vice President JD Vance to Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler speaks during a visit from Vice President JD Vance to Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance touts the “One Big Beautiful Bill” package during a speech on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston. (Jason Ardan / Staff Photographer)
Vice President JD Vance touts the “One Big Beautiful Bill” package during a speech on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston. (Jason Ardan / Staff Photographer)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Congressman Rob Bresnahan chats with the audience during a visit from Vice President JD Vance to Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vice President JD Vance visits Don’s Machine Shop in West Pittston on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, to tout the passing of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Congress approved Trump’s megabill without support from any Democrats, who have blasted the law for deep cuts to Medicaid and reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Luzerne County Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Shubilla referred to the bill as “not so beautiful” in a statement emailed before Vance spoke.
“While it is remarkable when Luzerne County receives a visit from the President or a member of his cabinet, Vice President Vance is here to attempt to sell a bill that ultimately will hurt the average person in Luzerne County, weaken our communities, and do exactly the opposite of what he and Trump campaigned on,” Shubilla said. “We are already seeing rural hospitals struggling to stay open, people’s unnecessary suffering with cutting of Medicaid and SNAP benefits, the stripping of consumer protections in favor of more profits for giant corporations, and the rising prices on consumer goods.”
The Trump megabill provides roughly $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security efforts, including $75 billion in extra funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, making it the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.
The tax-and-spending bill is projected to increase federal deficits by at least $3.4 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Vice President JD Vance greets patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston, Pa., Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, left, greet patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston, Pa., Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, greet patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston, Pa., Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance greets patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston, Pa., Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance greets local law enforcement officials prior to boarding Air Force Two upon departure at Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport in Avoca, Pa., Wednesday, July 16, 2025, after traveling to the area to speak about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” at a local business. (Saul Saul/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance board Air Force Two upon departure at Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport in Avoca, Pa., Wednesday, July 16, 2025, after travelling to the area to speak about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” at a local business. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)