U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., answered questions from constituents Wednesday at a roundtable at the Mecosta VFW Post 2335.

The event, sponsored by Americans for Prosperity and Concerned Veterans for America, focused on the Working Families Tax Cuts signed into law in July 2025 and related economic and veterans issues.

Landen Chulski, grassroots engagement director for Americans for Prosperity, moderated the discussion with Moolenaar and John Byrnes, strategic director for Concerned Veterans for America.

“We’re glad to give government officials the opportunity to speak with constituents,” Chulski said.

Topics included making certain tax provisions permanent, such as no tax on overtime and tips, deductions affecting small businesses and farms, and incentives for domestic manufacturing.

Moolenaar said some provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts were enacted on a temporary basis and that he supports extending them.

“One big benefit of the Working Families Tax Cuts was to extend that and make permanent some of those provisions,” Moolenaar said. “This allows people more certainty when you think of businesses and people who are trying to make investments in the United States. Through some of the savings, we were able to get no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security. This is something that people who are really working paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet, have really benefited from.”

Byrnes discussed how broader tax and business policies can affect veterans who start or work in companies.

“Once you get the veterans in the mix, they’re the most competitive people in the world,” Byrnes said. “Veterans come home and they work in small businesses, become big businesses, and they employ a lot of people. When we talk about veteran entrepreneurs, there’s a lot of organizations that say that there should be tax cuts for veteran businesses. If you get a tax cut or any kind of great business policy, it should be for everybody.”

Attendees applauded Moolenaar’s comments on reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing, particularly in the auto industry. He said stronger domestic production would support more reliable supply chains.

“Our government leaders have come to the realization that you want to have a strong manufacturing base, you want to have a supply chain that is reliable,” Moolenaar said. “If you can work with like-minded countries and you know you have supply chains in different places, you never want to be relying on unreliable partners.”

Constituents also asked about expanding vocational programs for high school graduates who do not attend college, creating more jobs for seniors in customer-service roles rather than outsourcing, and potential legislation requiring consent for certain psychiatric medications prescribed through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Moolenaar said he would look into the issues.

“Hearing from constituents is very important because these are the stories I carry back with me to Washington, D.C.,” Moolenaar said. “It’s good to hear from veterans who are affected by these policies and hearing concerns firsthand.”

Moolenaar represents Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes all of Barry, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties, plus portions of Eaton, Kent, Midland, Muskegon, Ottawa and Wexford counties.