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.

We Must Stop the Lawlessness at our Southern Border and Protect our National Parks

Since President Biden took office, there have been greater than 6.4 million illegal crossings over our southern border. This includes 169 encounters with individuals whose names appear on the terror watch list, not to mention the record levels of illicit narcotics, such as fentanyl and opioids, crossing the border every day. 

Instead of working to secure our border and reinstate the effective policies, such as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, the Administration is housing migrants in our schools and now in our national parks. 

Meanwhile, there are ICE detention facilities that are sitting empty, like the ICE Processing facility in Adelanto, California, in Rep. Obernolte’s district. This facility, which is already fully funded, has sat empty since April 2020. We should utilize these already prepared and paid for ICE facilities rather than setting up tent cities in our national parks! 

On September 15, 2023, the Biden Administration signed a lease with New York City to house at least 2,000 migrants at Floyd Bennet Field in the Gateway National Recreation Area. In less than two months, the park reached capacity and turned from a space used to host community events, such as bike races and youth day camps, to a tent city encampment for illegal aliens. 

The Biden Administration’s takeover of Floyd Bennet Field and the threat of taking over our national parks not only raises serious infrastructure and sanitation concerns, but it also endangers community safety, further risks the well-being of the illegal aliens and migrant community while simultaneously degrading park resources. 

This week, I was proud to take action and support H.R. 5283, the “Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure our Border Act of 2023.” This vital legislation prohibits American taxpayer funding from housing illegal immigrants on federal lands owned by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  

Earlier this year, the House passed my resolution to shield our schools from Biden’s border crisis. The resolution, H.Res. 461, condemns the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens admitted to the U.S.

And despite the House passing H.R. 2, historic border and immigration policy, there is still more work that needs to be done to reverse Biden’s historic border crisis and protect our communities, parks, and facilities. I will continue to urge my colleagues to stop this lawlessness at our borders and protect our citizens and national parks from becoming tent cities for illegal aliens.  

We cannot ignore the aggressive overreach of the Biden Administration and the mounting border crisis. 

Weekly Wrap Up

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 wonderful meeting with the University of Iowa President Dr. Barbara J. Wilson and members of the University of Iowa faculty and staff. We discussed their ongoing rural health initiatives in collaboration with Governor Reynolds, the legislature, and other health partners.

The iJAG program helps students unlock their potential and discover their professional goals. This week, I met with a group of iJAG students and discussed how the program has been a catalyst for their future endeavors.

Floor Speeches

I was honored to speak on the House Floor to urge my colleagues to stop the ongoing lawlessness at our southern border and support H.R. 5283, the "Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act of 2023."

The Pat Tillman Scholarship honors military service members, veterans, and spouses with a proven track record of leadership. Congratulations, Zach Graham, for being named a 2023 Pat Tillman scholar; your dedication to service above self is truly commendable.

The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge, in Bettendorf, Iowa, took home first place in the 2023 American Concrete Institute's Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards in the infrastructure category.

Congratulations to Sam Raymond, Carson Guzman, and Ryan Peters of Norwalk High School for receiving the National Speech and Debate Association’s 2022-2023 Speaking and Service Award.

Every year, the Iowa High School Speech Association selects the winner for the Theatre Educator of the Year award based on community and state-wide impact. Congratulations, Mrs. Suzi Jones, for being named the 2023 Theatre Educator of the Year.

Committee Hearings

In this week's House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee hearing, I highlighted that Iowa generates nearly two-thirds of total electricity net generation from renewable sources, including over 60 percent through wind energy.

This week, I was proud to participate in the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee's "Understanding How AI is Changing Health Care" hearing.

During this week's House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight hearing, I asked CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen about how the agency is working to rebuild public trust and why we should view the efforts as genuine.

Legislative Roundup

This week, I introduced the following legislation:

The "Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023," legislation that will level the playing field for vehicles running on low-carbon liquid fuels, like ethanol. This legislation would also ensure that, for purposes of determining fleet average CO2 standards, manufacturers may use a gram per mile CO2 value for FFVs that is 31% lower than the gram per mile CO2 value or the same vehicle model that is not a flexible fuel vehicle. 

I voted in favor of the following legislation:

H.Res. 793, Calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during October 2023 attack on Israel.

H.Res. 888, Reaffirming the State of Israel's right to exist.

H.Res. 878, Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.

S.J. Res. 32, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act."

H.R. 5283, The "Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act," legislation that prohibits the federal government from using certain federally administered lands to provide housing to any non-U.S. nationals who have been admitted into the United States.