Calling For the Release and Safe Return of All Hostages Held by Hamas 

In a kibbutz in southern Israel, there is a community of almost 400 people. It is a close community that knows all too well the dangers of living in a war zone due to its location near Gaza. 

But on October 7th, nothing could have prepared the Kibbutz Nir Oz community for the merciless surprise attack by Hamas terrorists. According to reports, 38 people were killed and 75 were abducted.

As we enter the fourth month of the Israel-Hamas War, the number of Israeli and American hostages looms, and Americans remain held captive by Hamas. 

Stories like the massacre of Kibbutz Nir Oz are heartbreaking, and last week, I witnessed the ravaged community first-hand as I joined Senator Joni Ernst on the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Delegation to Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain. 

Being in the Middle East during this time was important to not only dovetail my work to safeguard Jewish communities here at home through my resolution to establish a commission to combat antisemitism, but it was also essential to go directly to the region and advocate for the Americans that are held captive by Hamas. 

While in the region, we heard from family members, released hostages, and we also heard from leaders on the global stage about the escalation of crimes committed by Hamas against women and potential paths toward the immediate release of American - and all - hostages. 

In Israel, we met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We met with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel in Egypt and discussed the crucial role that Egypt plays in the effort to release hostages held by Hamas. 

In Qatar, we urged Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to call for the return of the six American hostages, and our delegation met with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Bahrain to discuss the US-Bahrain strategic relationship while working to bring hostages home. 

We also had an opportunity to visit Iowans stationed in the region to thank them for their service. 

Overall, our high-level meetings with leaders in the region were productive, and our tour of the Kibbutz Nir Oz was eye-opening. 

This bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Delegation trip made it clear that our efforts abroad are linked to our efforts here in the US. Therefore, I will remain committed to calling for the safe return of all the hostages held by Hamas, and I will continue to work to establish the commission to combat antisemitism and ensure that our Jewish communities in the United States are protected. 

Senator Ernst Congressional Delegation

Thank you, Senator Ernst, for leading a Congressional Delegation to Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain. Our meetings with leaders on the global stage about crimes committed by Hamas against women and potential paths toward the release of American – and all – hostages further demonstrated our support for Israel.

Power to the Patients

Thank you to Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Jelly Roll, and Power to the Patients for coming to Washington to advocate for quality patient care! They are pushing to bring price transparency to the forefront of healthcare and helped us pass H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Floor Speeches

Congratulations, Lola VanDeWalle and the Quad City Veterans Outreach Center, on your 7th Anniversary, and thank you for your continued generosity.

Madison Herring, a Girl Scout from Maquoketa, Iowa, recently received the Girl Scout Silver Award for creating a recreational area with recycled materials from wind turbines. Thank you, Madison, for your commitment to sustainability and our community.

The North Scott Lancers recently brought the 4A State Championship back to Eldridge! Congratulations on an incredible season.

Congratulations, Jim Leyland, on your well-deserved election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Committee Hearings

Our goal and our mission should be to serve our veterans. During this week’s House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on rural access, I highlighted the need to deliver high-quality care to our veterans and decrease the bureaucracy at the VA.

Legislative Roundup

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

H.R. 788, the "Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act." This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that provides for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States.

I supported S.J. Res. 38, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Highway Administration relating to "Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers."

Sincerely,