Friends,

Thank you for taking time to read my weekly update. Below you'll learn more about what I'm doing in Washington to support Iowans in the first district.

My Resolution to Protect Our schools From Biden's Failed Border Policies

Maintaining secure borders is essential to our national security, sovereignty, economic stability, and public health. The Biden Administration has shown repeatedly that they are not interested in or capable of securing our borders.

Customs and Border Protection indicates the porosity of the northern border, but especially the southern border, which has allowed record numbers of illegal crossings since President Biden’s inauguration.

The consequences of these policy failures are far reaching, turning every state across the nation into a border state. Millions of people are continuing to make the dangerous voyage because they know that if they make it across the border, they will be allowed to remain in our country even without valid asylum claims. 

Two years of open border policies have completely overwhelmed not only our border towns, but also many major cities where the Biden Administration has quietly flown in and bussed thousands of migrants. Even Democrat-led state’s mayors and governors are complaining about the influx of migrants taxing the social service infrastructure and school systems. In addition, municipalities, such as New York City, are using public school gymnasiums as overflow housing for illegal aliens and setting troubling precedents for the future.

Not only does this policy fail to solve the problem of illegal immigration, but it puts American youth at risk. Housing any adult in public school buildings alongside children is unacceptable. Our schools are not hotels, they are places for learning, physical recreation, and where our kids become prepared for the future. Given the lack of proper background checks, it also puts children’s safety at risk.

With learning loss at an all-time high after COVID lockdowns, our schools must be hyper fixated on reading, math, and history, rather than being a fail safe for a failed Administration.

I introduced, and the House of Representatives passed, H.Res. 461 to ban the Biden Administration from using schools to house illegal aliens. This resolution sends a clear message to the Biden Administration that we will not stand for the consequences of their failure to enforce our immigration laws. 

Republicans are serious about border security and understand how this crisis has impacted Americans.

I am proud to have spearheaded this legislation and I hope changes can be made to keep our schools safe for our children. I will fight diligently in Congress to support policies that ensure our border is secure and our enforcement officers have the resources they need. Without a secure border, we do not have a secure country. 

A Loan Taken Out Is a Loan That Must Be Repaid

To many, graduating from high school is a momentous occasion. Students study hard, put in work, and grow during their high school years. However, one thing that perhaps is not factored into the equation enough is financial literacy.

America has an educational system unlike any in the world.

If students do not score at the top of the class in the United States, they still have options. Americans can go to a community college, go to work, go to a four-year institution, change a degree pathway, or enlist in the military.

But, if we continue to promote the high school-to-college pipeline and trivialize trade schools or other paths, then we are ultimately stifling our educational freedom and glorifying debt.

The debt many students incur, based on the student loans they take out to go to college or to stay in school, is troubling.

If we fail to have a more transparent process for diverse paths after graduation, we will not only do a disservice to our nation’s teens, but also to our entire educational system.

In Iowa, we know that a loan taken out is a loan that must be repaid. This is why I introduced the “Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2023,” which expands lender disclosure requirements and revises loan counseling requirements.

But the Democrats and the Biden Administration continue to push blanket student loan

forgiveness, which results in those "forgiven" costs being transferred to hardworking taxpayers.

The Biden Administration's plan to complete a sweeping student loan forgiveness plan asks someone who may or may not have gone to college to pay back a loan from which they are not benefitting. It's asking a student who decided to go to a community college before a four-year college to work a double shift. It's asking a parent who may be delaying repairing their car because they are helping their child pay for school to foot the bill.

Despite efforts by President Biden and Democrats to “forgive” student loans, we must remember that student loans are still a major financial commitment and should be treated as such. Before taking out federal student loans, proper counseling for students should be required.

We must ensure our students are equipped with the guidance needed to make informed decisions and that they understand the process to pay these loans back. I hope my colleagues will join me to turn the tide and increase knowledge about student loan options.

Iowans in DC

It is always great to meet with Iowans while they are in Washington! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to residents of the First District allows me to stay informed of what is going on in their communities and what I can do to help.

I had a great meeting with the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance this week to discuss the importance of keeping internal combustion engine vehicles on the road.

I met with the Iowa Restaurant Association to discuss workforce issues affecting the industry.

It was a pleasure to meet with the Joint Munitions Command Commander Col. Anderson this week to discuss the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.

I met with DOE National Labs, including Ames National Lab and NREL, to discuss developments in AI and critical minerals recycling.

This week, SSAB Americas presented me with a piece of the first ever zero emissions steel in the world, produced in Iowa's First District.

It was great to meet with the Iowa Communications Alliance this week. They represent more than 120 broadband providers across 720 towns in Iowa.

It was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Congress this week and have University of Iowa graduate Pareen Mhatre in attendance as my guest.

Floor Speeches

I was honored to speak in favor of my resolution, H.Res. 461, on the House Floor. This resolution will protect our schools from the negative consequences of President Biden's failed border policies.

I spoke in favor of the CHOICE Arrangement Act on the House Floor. This legislation is an important step in reducing the cost of quality healthcare for small businesses.

It was a pleasure to have an opportunity to speak about the importance of PTSD awareness month on the House Floor.

I spoke in opposition to President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. A loan taken out is a loan that must be repaid.

I was honored to recognize Keaton Winn of Ollie, Iowa, on the House Floor. Keaton was recently called up to the San Francisco Giants major league roster.

Committee Hearings

I questioned witnesses during a Health Subcommittee Legislative Hearing titled: “Responding to America's Overdose Crisis: An Examination of Legislation to Build Upon the SUPPORT Act."

This week, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing titled: “MACRA Checkup: Assessing Implementation and Challenges that Remain for Patients and Doctors.”

I questioned witnesses during a House Energy & Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Legislative Hearing this week titled: “Driving Affordability: Preserving People’s Freedom to Buy Affordable Vehicles and Fuel.”

This week, I voted in favor of the following legislation:

H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act, legislation to roll back changes made by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to the fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a conventional single-family mortgage (i.e., loan-level pricing adjustments) and restricts future fee adjustments.

H.Res. 461, Condemning the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens who are not admitted to the United States.

Veto Message to Accompany H.J. Res. 45, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans."

H.R. 3799, The CHOICE Arrangement Act, legislation to provide statutory authority for regulations that allow employers to offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs).

Adoption of H.Res. 521, Censuring and condemning Adam Schiff, Representative of California's 30th Congressional District.

H.R. 1606, The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, legislation to provide statutory authority for the Boots to Business Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to individuals including veterans and active members of the Armed Forces, to be administered by the Small Business Administration.

H.R. 3672, To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the "Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic."