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WEEK IN REVIEW
This has been a jam-packed week of fighting for our troops, discussing racial inequality, lessening our dependence on China, and supporting our veterans.
As we head into the weekend, I want to give you an update on a few things I have been working on this week.
Protecting Our Troops
Every year, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee , we work on vitally important legislation to ensure the Pentagon is working efficiently and our warfighters are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to win the battle of today and well into the future. As someone who wore those ‘boots on the ground,’ I know what we do here matters to our troops on the front lines.
That’s why I’m glad that this year’s annual defense bill includes a number of my efforts to ensure our military men and women are protected as they defend our nation and way of life.
My provisions in the bill to improve protection, safety, and treatment for the men and women of our Armed Forces will:
- Develop and field proper-fitting body armor for female soldiers
- Work to stop sexual assault in the military before it happens and lower the barriers for reporting by victims, including the Coast Guard
- Make the military courts handling sexual assault and other cases more efficient and accountable
- Fund proven and effective medical treatments for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Provide hazard pay for National Guard troops on the front lines to fight COVID-19
- Improve survivability and safety for military combat vehicles
Working Together to Be Part of the Solution, Not the Problem
It’s unfortunate that George Floyd’s death was the catalyst for talks that needed to happen a very long time ago. On Wednesday, I called on my colleagues, and all Americans, to work together and be part of the solution, not the problems that we’ve seen across our country. As part of this effort, I will be having upcoming conversations about race and injustice, including with Senate Chaplain Barry Black.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks.
Supporting Homeless Veterans
Without access to some of the most basic hygiene products and the ability to social distance, our homeless veterans are some of our most vulnerable individuals during COVID-19. And as our nation’s heroes who have sacrificed so much, they deserve our support, particularly during these difficult times.
I’m working on bipartisan legislation to support homeless veterans in Iowa, and across the country by increasing resources for our war heroes during the COVID-19.
Working to Decrease Dependency on China
The COVID-19 pandemic has been what I call a ‘great awakening’ when it comes to the vulnerabilities in our supply chain. It’s clear now, maybe more than ever, that our nation has become all too dependent on the Communist Party of China for items like PPE, prescription drugs, and other essential medical supplies. We need to fix that.
That’s why I helped introduced the Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements to Consumers Here In North America (BEAT CHINA) Act to incentivize pharmaceutical and medical device and supply manufacturers to relocate to the United States. While China is our trade partner, there’s no doubt we can find ways to produce and manufacture goods and supplies right here in the US, and this bill is good step toward that end.
Celebrating the Army’s 245th Birthday!
This Sunday is the 245th Birthday of the great United States Army! To celebrate, and show my appreciation for the men and women of the Army, as a proud Army veteran and the mother of a daughter at West Point, I ran the Sergeant Major of the Army’s “2.45 Mile Challenge!”
Click here or on the image above for a video after my run.
For more updates on what's happening in Washington, D.C. and Iowa, be sure to 'Like' my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter @SenJoniErnst, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Thank you!
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