ENC residents voice concern, and support for One Big Beautiful Bill Act passage

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - ENC residents are reacting to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the Republican-controlled House passed on Thursday.

Some residents say the bill will impact rural health care in Eastern Carolina, while others say it will help the country down the line.

The bill passed the House with 218 yays and 214 nays, and is now on its way to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

The multi-trillion dollar bill includes tax cuts and funding boosts for border security and defense, which will be paid for by cuts to health care and nutritional programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

“Devastated,” Bethany Smith, a recipient of Medicaid said. “I was really hoping that this wouldn’t happen and all I can say is that I’m feeling a lot of anger, rage, desperation disappointment...um I’m not happy.”

Smith has physical deconditioning and has to use a wheelchair to get around, and says Medicaid has enabled her to survive.

“I can end up in a hospital long-term,” she said. “In the past year I’ve been in the hospital four times, a total of 10 times in the past two years, the services that I receive from Medicaid are what keep me out of the hospital. There are people who are going to lose their lives when they lose their health care but there are also going to be people who lose their livelihoods.”

But others like Robert Beacham, a veteran says despite the cuts, the bill will help all Americans down the line.

“I know it’s supposed to help America, it’s supposed to make us stronger down the road,” he said. “I think it’s all right, to take the hit. I mean I don’t think it’s gonna be that much of a hit anyway. I think overall, America is going to come out better in the long end. Whether you’re retired, or whether you’re old, or whether you’re younger.”

Vice President Jason Kanawati Stephany of the Central and Eastern North Carolina Food Bank says ENC families and farmers will feel the immediate impact of the bill.

“This vote isn’t just a political decision,” he said. “It’s a direct assault on the health and wellbeing of families across Central and Eastern North Carolina. We’re talking about tens of thousands more children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities in our region who will go hungry, because leaders in Washington chose to turn their backs on our communities.”

Pitt County GOP Chairman Drock Vincent tells WITN that he supports the bill.

“I am very happy to have this Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’s desk so fast,” he said. “Lower taxes on the working class, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, funding for finishing the wall and increasing the budget for our military.”