Impeaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: A Missed Opportunity

Last week, I voted to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. I cast my vote to send a clear signal that we must stop being desensitized to the unprecedented border crisis.

Even though, Iowa is not a border state, our cities are deeply impacted by the fentanyl crisis, and our communities are being destroyed by the illicit drugs that continue to flood across our border. I fully believe that Biden’s border crisis falls squarely on the shoulders of the President and the Secretary of DHS, and I cannot stand by and let the flow of illicit drugs continue to paralyze our communities.

Last week, the House had the opportunity to change the course of Biden’s border crisis and impeach Secretary Mayorkas. But, unfortunately, the impeachment measure did not pass the House. While, I am disappointed that we could not make changes at DHS last week, I will not stop fighting to call out the Administration’s dereliction of duty and I look forward to the impeachment vote coming before the House again this week. 

In Congress, I will continue to advocate for my resolution, H. Res. 461, which condemns the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens admitted to the U.S. The House passed this resolution and now it’s time for the Biden Administration to act.

I will continue to call on the support of my colleagues like I did in November when I spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 5283, the “Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure our Border Act of 2023.” This vital legislation passed the House and prohibits the use of American taxpayer funding to house 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.  

Finally, I will still support H.R. 2, which passed the House. This historic border and immigration policy strengthens border security and immigration laws, deters illegals from taking advantage of our immigration system, and addresses the humanitarian crisis that the Biden Administration has created.

Bottom line, we need fixes to our legal immigration system that make it easier for people to apply and come in legally and harder for those who are entering the country illegally. But, while there is still so much work that needs to be done to fortify our border, I will continue to put the Biden Administration in check and work to keep our communities safe. 

Iowans in D.C.

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.

Special Olympics International greatly enhances the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you, Isaac Baldus, Bonnie Baldus, Rob Baldus, and Stuart Steffy, for stopping by to discuss how the Special Olympics has impacted your lives. Isaac, I look forward to watching your continued success!

I met with Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate while he was in town for the 2024 National Association of Secretaries of State Winter Conference. Thank you for the update on everything that the state is doing to combat human trafficking and ensure the security of our elections.

This week, the Deans of the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University stopped by the office to provide an update on their innovative research and engineering programs. I'm excited to see how your students transform the world of engineering.

It was great to meet with the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities this week to discuss the student financial aid and FAFSA changes. Students, parents, and institutions deserve clarity when making decisions that impact their educational and financial futures.

I met with Gary Andersen from the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center to discuss the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) program and initiatives to support our local law enforcement and public safety agencies.

This week, I met with representatives from the Iowa Rural Water Association to discuss water and wastewater technical assistance programs. We also discussed last week’s Energy and Commerce hearing on ensuring the cybersecurity of America's drinking water systems.

I was proud to host the Waterways Council Inc to discuss lock and dam infrastructure projects on the Mississippi River. Thank you to the representatives from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, ADM, Corn Belt Ports, and ARTCo for the discussion.

It was great meeting with representatives from Community Colleges for Iowa. Thank you for the discussion about bolstering the role of community colleges in workforce development.

Iowa is home to nearly 175,000 men and women who have served bravely in our Armed Forces. Thanks to Commandant Jacobus for coming to Washington to update me on the work IDVA is doing. I will continue to fight for these men and women every day in Congress.

I was honored to stand next to Senator Joni Ernst and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to fight for each hostage that is currently being detained by Hamas.

I had the pleasure of hosting the Iowa Farm Bureau Board of Directors in Washington. We discussed the need for a Farm Bill and the damaging effects it is having on the Iowa farmer. I look forward to continuing this discussion and delivering for Iowa.

Thank you, Dr. Robert Brown, Co-Director of the Bioeconomy Institute and Professor of Engineering at Iowa State University, for meeting with me this week to discuss the Biochar Research Network Act of 2023.

Telephone Town Hall

It was an honor to host a telephone town hall this week with House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost to discuss how we are working to serve our fellow veterans. Thank you to everyone who called in and took the time to join us.

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.

Thank you to President Ottosson for the tour of William Penn University and your ongoing commitment to help educate the future workforce here in Iowa!

Thank you to Barry Martin and the Mahaska County YMCA for showing us around your beautiful facility. The Y is a home for all ages that provides youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. I look forward to our ongoing partnership to serve the people of Mahaska Co.

It was a pleasure to attend the Direct Selling Association's Women’s Entrepreneurship Roundtable in Davenport. We must continue to support and empower our female entrepreneurs!

98% of the steel produced at Gerdau Steel Mill is from recycled metals. I toured Gerdau’s Wilton facility and discussed their workforce challenges as well as their support for our community.

I toured Arnold Motor Supply in Iowa City to discuss technician shortages, labor shortages, and other issues facing the industry.

Floor Speeches

The use of QALYs amounts to discrimination, something that is all too common in our health care system. This week, I supported H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. This bill, led by Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, would prohibit all federal healthcare programs from using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) as criteria to determine coverage for, in many cases, life-altering treatments for patients.

Committee Hearings

U.S. LNG produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other types of coal or gas used around the world. If the U.S. limits LNG exports, we will effectively push our allies to get their LNG exports from adversaries like Russia, China, or Iran with dirtier oil and natural gas.

Legislative Roundup

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

H. Res. 863, "Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors."

H.R. 485, the "Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act," legislation that prohibits all federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and federally funded state health care programs from using prices that are based on quality-adjusted life years to determine relevant thresholds for coverage, reimbursements, or incentive programs.

H.R. 7217, the "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act," legislation that provides FY2024 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense and the Department of State for activities to respond to the attacks in Israel.

H.R. 443, the "Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act," legislation that requires the Department of Labor to provide training and education to its employees on how to effectively detect and assist law enforcement in detecting human trafficking.

H.R. 2882, the "Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act," legislation that reauthorizes through FY2028 the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, its Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund, and the foundation's support for training of health care and public policy professionals through the Native Nations Institute.

Sincerely,