Celebrating Our Farmers

As we wrap up National Agriculture Week, I am proud to recognize the importance of our farmers across the nation and right here in the Hawkeye State. In Iowa, agriculture isn't just an industry, it's a way of life. Our farmers, with their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, not only feed our communities but also sustain our economy and fuel our nation. 

Iowa remains a leader in agriculture, including being first in the nation in corn, soybean, pork, and egg production. One in every five jobs in Iowa is in agriculture, with as much as $96.5 billion in economic impact coming from industry. Additionally, Iowa farmers are growing significantly more food on less land. Despite 2023 ending as the state’s 22nd driest year on record, Iowa corn and soybean crops ranked as the 4th highest yield in state history. 

Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have been committed to upholding Iowa’s leading agricultural influence. I’ve worked with Iowa’s farmers to pass legislation that helps them continue to feed America. Our farmers deserve legislation that will embolden them to produce, grow, and cultivate. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration’s policies have hamstrung Iowa farmers at every turn. Since Biden took office, the price to operate a farm has hit an all-time high, fertilizer prices have almost doubled, and disastrous regulations have confused farmers and caused chaos in the market. 

I have been blessed to visit countless farms and agricultural producers during my time representing Southeast Iowa. In my travels, I’ve heard about the struggles so many farmers endure to keep their farms afloat. The countless stifling regulations they need to comply with, the heavy debts they face, and the growing labor shortages caused by the Biden Administration’s carelessness have caused undue burdens on the nation’s hardest workers.

But it does not have to be this way. During my tenure, I have advocated for countless pieces of legislation and Farm Bill priorities that will strengthen Iowa’s pivotal agriculture sector, put farmers first, and ensure Iowa can continue to export its bountiful crops across the nation and globally. The fertile soils of Iowa have long been recognized as some of the most productive in the world. With over 80 percent of Iowa’s land dedicated to agricultural purposes, our farmers serve as the backbone of our communities, economy, and state. I remained committed to working in tandem with all of Iowa’s delegation to ensure the best possible results for Iowa’s farmers.

As National Agriculture Month continues, I believe all of us need to give a hearty thank you to Iowa’s farmers. Their tireless efforts to feed and fuel our country need to be lauded and appreciated. As a proud Iowan, I will continue to do everything I can to support and defend our farmers. 

Weekly Wrap Up

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.

It was great seeing the Livestock Marketing Association in Washington. We discussed the need for a Farm Bill and how important animal disease traceability is.

It is always a pleasure to host the Iowa Farm Bureau in Washington. Farmers across Iowa have made it clear, it’s time to get the Farm Bill done, and we must continue to fight for a legislative fix to biofuels issues as we combat the disastrous Biden Administration energy policies.

I met with Canadian Counsel General, Beth Richardson, to discuss the growing trade relationship between Canada and Iowa's first district, as well support for ACES and broader US-Canada relations.

Thank you to Dr. Edith Parker, Dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa for visiting with me on Capitol Hill to discuss how critical it is for the United States to fund various public health initiatives looking towards the future.

As the conversations continue on Capitol Hill around the importance of funding medical research continue, I was glad to have the opportunity to meet with the American Lung Association.

It was a pleasure to host Dr. Emma Hornick from the University of Iowa's Department of Microbiology and Immunology to discuss the importance of continued NIH funding for biomedical research. It’s always a great day when “Hawks” are on the Hill!

As we closed out National Agriculture day this week, I had the pleasure of hosting John Deere to discuss precision agriculture innovation and increasing access to connectivity in rural areas.

I met with the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society. We discussed physician payment reform under Medicare and support for the HELLPP Act. Thank you all for coming to DC!

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 was honored to speak at FarmFluencer lunch at the World Food Prize- where Ag Innovation has made Iowa a leader in feeding and fueling the world, while lowering carbon emissions with sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices. Thanks also to Ambassador Branstad and Senator Zumbach.

I visited with CemenTech in Indianola this week. Not only do they manufacture a great product with practical applications, they started an educational workforce program as well. We also discussed EPA particulate matter rule which won’t have its intended effect of improving air quality.

I had a great tour of Career Academy Program Pella High School this week. CAP is preparing the future workforce by incorporating STEM in partnership with local employers.

Floor Speeches

In Iowa, agriculture isn’t just an industry; it’s a way of life. I will continue fighting to ensure our farmers have the resources they need to continue to feed and fuel our nation.

Congratulations to Charla Schafer of Muscatine, Iowa, for winning the Global Humor category in the Erma Bombeck writing competition.

I was honored to celebrate students Kaitlyn and Madelyn Thede, Grady Claussen, Collier Rockow, and Lexi Henning from Wilton Junior-Senior High School for being the statewide winners of the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition. 

I was proud to congratulate Dr. David C. Hilmers, an Iowa-born former Astronaut and retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, for his induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. 

Committee Hearings

I was proud to see my bill, the Refrigerator Freedom Act, pass the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I will continue to ensure American consumers have freedom to choose what type of appliances they want in their own home

This week, the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee held a legislative hearing to discuss a number of bills aimed at improving healthcare for our veterans.

This week, I questioned witnesses during a House Energy and Commerce hearing on "Evaluating Approaches to Diagnostic Test Regulation and the Impact of the FDA’s Proposed Rule."

For years, the Obama and Biden administrations used the Antiquities Act to institutionalize massive executive overreach, seizing acres and acres of land without consequence. My bill, the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act, would curb executive overreach and require the administration to consult Congress before making rash decisions about our federal lands.

I promised that I would seek to hold the Biden administration accountable for the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan and I have never forgotten.

Legislative Roundup

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

H. Res. 1102, Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2882, Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.

H.R. 1023, "To repeal section 134 of the Clean Air Act, relating to the greenhouse gas reduction fund."

H.R. 7023, the "Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act," legislation that modifies requirements under the Clean Water Act, including requirements concerning water quality criteria, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, the permit program for discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

H.R. 1836, the "Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act," legislation that expands the Federal Maritime Commission's authority to regulate technology and anticompetitive practices within the international ocean transportation system.

H. Con. Res. 86, "Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States Economy."

H. Res. 987, "Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration."

H.R. 6009, the "Restoring American Energy Dominance Act," legislation that requires the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a proposed rule titled Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process.

H.R. 1121, the "Protecting American Energy Act," legislation that prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium.

H.R. 7520, the "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act," legislation that makes it unlawful for a data broker to sell, license, rent, trade, transfer, release, disclose, or otherwise make available specified sensitive data of individuals who reside in the United States to North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran or an entity controlled by such a country.

H. Res. 149, "Condemning the illegal abduction of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation."

H.R. 4723, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act," legislation that imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that are involved in certain actions that threaten the peace, stability, or democracy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sincerely,