ICYMI: Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Writes Op-ed Calling out Republican Hypocrisy and Describing the Impacts of the Big, Ugly Law

Miami, Fla.— Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) wrote an op-ed in the Miami Herald calling out the recent Republican hypocrisy during the government shutdown and describing the impacts of the ‘Big, Ugly Law,’ signed into law on July 4, 2025. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson voted 'No' on the ‘Big, Ugly Law.’ The op-ed is titled “Cuts that kill: Floridians will pay the price for the ‘Big Ugly Law’”

Full Op-ed Text Below:

“Right now, Republicans continue to keep the government shutdown while spewing out absolute nonsense about their position on healthcare and food assistance. 

The truth is simple: this summer Republicans cheered and passed the One Big Beautiful Bill — or the “Big Ugly Law” — which rips apart the fabric of public welfare and our democracy. 

It’s a law whose impact is starting to take effect across the nation right now and will continue to cause havoc in the lives of Americans for years to come. It’s so sweeping that the president said he doesn’t “need anything more from Congress” for the rest of his presidency. 

In Florida alone, nearly 2 million people will lose health insurance because of the Big Ugly Law. With open enrollment underway right now, families are already seeing skyrocketing premiums for 2026 because this law fails to extend crucial healthcare tax credits. 

These credits have been vital for Floridians, especially given the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid. And Miami-Dade is at the epicenter of this crisis, with over 1 million Affordable Care Act enrollees. 

Many people will lose coverage and some could die. Hospitals will lose revenue and services may be cut. The law also targets Medicaid, with further cuts coming in 2027. When Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are gutted, Medicare inevitably suffers and premiums rise for everyone, including those not relying on these programs. 

But the law extends beyond healthcare. It also targets essential nutrition programs. 

In Florida, 253,000 individuals will be cut off from some or all SNAP benefits. Just this year, eligibility for SNAP coverage will change and strip food aid from countless families, including veterans who benefit from some SNAP rule exemptions. 

This year marks the first wave of people losing SNAP due to this law. A second wave will hit in 2027 when more cuts take effect. Let’s not forget that Miami-Dade is the epicenter of food insecurity in Florida. This law will leave many in Miami-Dade going to sleep hungry. 

Our education system isn’t spared either. This law creates the first national school voucher plan, a Trojan horse mechanism designed to leech funding away from underfunded public schools and divert it to overfinanced private schools. 

School vouchers will cost taxpayers $50 billion a year — nearly double what the federal government pays now to help poor children and children with disabilities. This is where our priorities are — all while the administration guts the Department of Education. 

Higher education is under attack as well. Federal student loan borrowers can expect their yearly payments to jump by nearly $200 within a year. The law also caps how much students can borrow: a $257,500-lifetime limit overall, $20,500 per year and $100,000 total for graduate students 

You’ll also see the effects of this law in your electric bill. By eliminating the clean energy tax credit at the end of this year, the law will trigger an expected $430 annual increase in electricity costs for Floridians over the next decade. 

All for what? To give tax breaks to greedy billionaires who would still be rich even if they spent $10 million a day for the next 50 years. To throw more money at ICE so it can continue terrorizing immigrant communities. 

I’m proud to represent an immigrant-rich community, one of the state’s most culturally diverse districts that I like to call a “Little United Nations.” Our community will be among the hardest hit. 

Bottom line: many of these changes will not occur until after the 2026 midterms. 

This is a thought-out tactic to get your vote before the nightmare in your life is ushered in. I’m especially saddened because my county, Miami-Dade, seems to be ground zero for the barrage of pain and suffering that will hit us after 2026. 

I hope voters will remember this betrayal. While Democrats and the American people may not have won this battle, we will win the war.”

For the link to the op-ed, click here. 

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