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.

Sharing Iowa’s Story at COP28 

Last week, I was honored to share how Iowa is leading the country in renewable energy on the global stage at COP28 in Dubai. 

COP, also known as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties, is held each year by the United Nations, barring extraordinary circumstances, and this year marked the 28th meeting. 

This was my third year attending COP, and I was honored to travel with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation from the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I was honored to advocate for agriculture and American leadership in the clean energy space. As the Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, I was also honored to attend COP and share ways that conservatives are pragmatically approaching solutions to climate by working to reduce emissions while keeping energy affordable and abundant and assuring energy security.

The central goal of COP is to bring together leaders from around the world to discuss goals and solutions focused on creating and leaving a cleaner, healthier planet for our children and grandchildren. There are meetings, panels, and exhibits dedicated to moving the conversation forward and creating strong climate policies based on everyday life.

At COP, I had the opportunity to speak at the U.S. Pavilion to discuss how our farmers across Iowa and the United States are the backbone of this country and our economy. I highlighted how Iowa is a leading producer of soybeans, corn, pork, and eggs in the United States, even while reducing fertilizer and pesticide use with adoption of sustainable regenerative Ag practices. Further, I mentioned how our farmers help fuel the world with lower carbon, cleaner emissions liquid fuels. 

I had the opportunity to discuss how we have taken advantage of the geographic composition of our state to support the entire gamut of renewables, from wind to solar to ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, manure, and compressed renewable natural gas. 

In Iowa, we can introduce innovative technologies like carbon capture and underground storage to our biofuel refineries. We’ve added hydropower at Lake Red Rock, and advanced nuclear energy is being revisited to provide capacity and dispatchable continual base load to the energy mix. We have the Ames Lab, one of the U.S. national labs, that adds to the exciting research conducted at the University of Iowa and Iowa State. 

We have a story to tell, and I was honored to represent our district and our agricultural priorities at COP28, and I am excited to continue to tell the story about how Iowa is setting the example and creating systems to support and harness clean energy to secure a cleaner, healthier planet for generations to come.

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.

It was great to talk to Cadet Boaz Abramoff this week while he was in town to perform in the Air Force Academy Jewish choir at the White House. I remember nominating Cadet Boaz Abramoff for the Air Force Academy when he was a student at Iowa City West. I was impressed by his desire to give back to the country then, and I continue to be impressed by his dedication to our great nation now.

Thank you to the Iowa HHS Youth Advocates for taking the time to meet with me to discuss how we can work to support youth in foster care.

As a member of the American Canadian Economic and Security (ACES) Caucus, it was great to discuss the latest innovations in electricity and energy with Francis Bradley – CEO of Electricity Canada. 

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.

Friday marked the 40-year anniversary of Iowa becoming the first state in the nation to adopt a renewable portfolio standard. It was great to see Governor Reynolds and Senator Grassley take the stage during American Clean Power's Celebration of Clean Energy in Iowa.

I was delighted to join State Rep. Barb Kniff-McCulla this week in Knoxville at “Marion County Connect” to discuss small business and entrepreneurial support and advancement.

I visited GTG Peterbilt - a company that has been in business in Davenport since 1946 and has 280 employees across their 8 locations. We discussed the importance of opposing EPA mandates, supporting local community colleges and their apprenticeship program.

I visited 724 Ronalds Street to tour the Iowa City Community School District’s student-built home site. We discussed affordable housing, trade school programs, and the need for permitting reform. This groundbreaking project provides an opportunity for high school students to build a home and learn about the fundamentals of construction.

Floor Speeches

Congratulations, Riley Kramer of Troop 89 from Bettendorf, Iowa, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

This month, Simpson Stormin’ Red Ale had its official launch party at West Hill Brewing in Indianola, Iowa. Congratulations, West Hill Brewing and Simpson College, on another successful collaboration.

I recognized the retirement of Jago, the University of Iowa’s longest-serving K-9. After nearly a decade on the force, Jago deserves all the treats that retirement has to offer. Thank you for your service, and Happy Retirement, Jago.

The University of Iowa’s Women’s Soccer team made us all very proud this season and I cannot wait to see what they accomplish next year. 

In the News

This week, I joined Newsmax to weigh in on the Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden. A formal impeachment inquiry furthers the investigation into the Biden family, affords access to additional financial materials, and provides a safe avenue for additional whistleblowers to come forward and provide accountability for the American people.

Committee Hearings

As a 24-year veteran, I have seen the unique challenges that many of my fellow servicemembers and veterans face, both in service and as they adjust to living back in their communities. It is imperative that we continue to work on solutions such as the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program to give veterans and their family members the support that they so desperately need and deserve.

During this week’s Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing on reforming the World Health Organization, I demanded that we protect our sovereignty and ability to set our own domestic public health policies.

During this week’s House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on American leadership in AI, I highlighted that researchers at Iowa State University were awarded funding through ARPA-E to leverage artificial intelligence technologies to improve solar panel design and application. 

Legislative Roundup

This week, I joined Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and penned a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congressional action to prevent the impending 3.37% cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians. The letter was signed by 193 Members of Congress. Read more here.

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

H.R. 2670, The "National Defense Authorization Act." This bill authorizes FY2024 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense programs and activities, military construction, the national security programs of the Department of Energy, and the Maritime Administration.

H.R. 2365, The "Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act." This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to prevent and cure Parkinson's disease (a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements) and related conditions.

H.Res. 927, "Condemning antisemitism on University campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce."

H.Res. 918, "Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America."

H.R. 1147, The "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act." This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture to permit schools to offer students whole milk.

H.R. 357, The "Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act." This bill requires, subject to a limited exception, that any agency rule promulgated under notice and comment procedures must be issued and signed by an individual who was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

H.R. 4531, The "Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act." This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies various grants, programs, and activities that address substance use and misuse.

H.R. 5524, The "Foreign Affiliates Sharing Pilot Program Extension Act." This bill extends a pilot program that allows financial institutions to share suspicious activity reports with foreign affiliates for the purpose of combatting illicit financial activity.

H.R. 5118, The "Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act." This bill closes loopholes in the "Corporate Transparency Act" allowing foreign entities to operate shell companies in the U.S.

S. 788, The "Duck Stamp Modernization Act." This bill modifies provisions regarding the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as the duck stamp, and allows an individual to carry an electronic stamp, rather than a paper stamp, at the time of taking waterfowl.

H.R. 6503, The "Airport and Airway Extension Act." This bill temporarily extends specific Federal Aviation and Administration (FAA) programs and activities through March 8, 2024.

H.R. 5378, The "Lower Costs, More Transparency Act." This bill requires health care providers and insurers to disclose certain information about health care costs. It also establishes requirements for certain payment methodologies under Medicare and Medicaid and extends several public health programs.

H.R. 3224, The "Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act." This bill extends the authorization for the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), excluding the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and the medical countermeasures program.

H.Res. 914, "Censuring Representative Jamaal Bowman."