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.

Weekly Wrap Up

It was another busy week in Washington! I introduced the OTC Act of 2023 the same day the FDA approved Opill, and I introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act this week. The House also passed the FY24 NDAA.

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 enjoyed meeting with Clinton County officials to discuss important priorities to improve their community.

This week, I met with Lucy Arevalo, a student at Fort Madison High School who attended the JDRF 2023 Children's Congress. Thank you for taking the time to put together your scrapbook and thank you for your presentation on your experience living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

It was an honor to meet with a group of middle school girls to discuss their experience with GE Girls STEM Camp, a DC program that encourages girls across the country to pursue their dreams, especially in STEM!

It was a pleasure to meet with folks from the Association of Iowa School Administrators this week in Washington.

I had a great meeting with University of Iowa REACH to discuss Iowa’s role in addressing important education issues.

We welcomed Winston, Best in Show in Purina’s 21st Annual National Dog Show, to our D.C. office! Purina has a factory and other operations in Iowa’s first district and I’m always happy to support our manufacturers, especially when it comes to nutrition for our furry friends.

20 county tour

It is always great to meet with Iowans as I travel across the first district! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to Iowans allows me to stay informed about what is happening in their communities and what I can do to help.

I hosted a round table with local bankers and mortgage lenders to discuss the Middle Class Borrowers Protection Act, which stops the Biden Administration from imposing new fee changes based on the debt-to-income (DTI) of borrowers.

I met with the Indianola Police Chief Brian Sher and detectives Rick and Nicole to discuss the Halt Fentanyl Act. Thank you for taking time to offer insights on how this legislation has impacted our community.

Statements

I was honored to introduce the Orally Taken Contraception Act of 2023 this week.

Floor Speeches

Congratulations Judge William Kelly on your selection to be a Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Congratulations Caitlin Clark of Des Moines, Iowa for winning the National Player of the Year award for her performance this past season for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball team.

I was honored to recognize the Quad City Strikers U15 Soccer Club on the House Floor. They proudly represented Iowa at the 2023 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup last weekend.

Supporting the NDAA is essential in making sure our soldiers and interests abroad are supported and defended to the highest standard, while also making sure all of us at home in the United States are protected from threats as well.

Committee Hearings

Uncovering the true origins of COVID-19 is critical to our national security. Watch my line of questioning from this week's Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing.

Legislative Roundup

This week, I introduced the following legislation:

The Orally Taken Contraception Act of 2023. Legislation to encourage sponsors of oral contraceptive drugs to submit applications for the approval of such drugs as over-the-counter, and for other purposes. 

The Afghan Adjustment Act. Legislation to provide support for nationals of Afghanistan who supported the United States mission in Afghanistan, adequate vetting for parolees from Afghanistan, adjustment of status for eligible individuals, and special immigrant status for at-risk Afghan allies and relatives of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 

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

H.R. 1548, the Improving Access to Small Business Information Act, to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to specify that actions of the Advocate for Small Business Capital formation are not a collection of Information under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

H.R.2670, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.