Friend, 

I hope you are staying warm and had a nice Thanksgiving with loved ones. I hosted many friends and family, tried out a new turkey recipe, and made my famous mashed potatoes, which are always a fan favorite. With Max and Jax, let’s just say the leftovers did not last very long.

This holiday season is a perfect reminder of the importance of family – and ways we can continue to make raising a strong family more affordable. In Washington, I’m focused on bipartisan solutions to help make life easier for working parents. I recently helped introduce bipartisan legislation to allow parents to use 529 savings programs for child care and early childhood education.

Currently, families can use 529 plans for higher education costs. But we all know the crunch doesn’t start when their child turns 18 – it starts in the early years when costs of child care and early learning options start to add up. I think parents should have the flexibility to use 529 plans earlier.

This bill gives parents a simple way to save for child care: you can use a 529 account to set aside money tax-free and spend it on licensed child care for kids under five. And unlike other programs, there’s no limit on how much you can save or use, so families can plan in a way that actually fits their needs.

Additionally, families will soon feel the effects of the enhanced child care tax credits in the Working Families Tax Cut bill – allowing parents to keep more of their paychecks and improve access to quality child care.

I’ll continue working across the aisle to break down barriers and make child care more affordable, flexible, and accessible for Iowa families.

Sincerely,

This week, I spoke on the House Floor to recognize Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University, on her upcoming retirement after more than forty years of distinguished service.

Dr. Wintersteen has been a remarkable leader whose commitment to her students and to the state of Iowa has left a lasting impact on the institution. She brought the 'Innovate at Iowa State' vision to life, solidifying the school’s role as a national leader in research and entrepreneurship.

My husband, Matt, an Iowa State alumnus, and I look forward to many more Cyclone games, and know that Dr. Wintersteen will be cheering on the Clones for many more years to come.  

Click the photo below or right here to watch my full remarks. 

I enjoyed meeting with an amazing group of women representing Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates program in my DC office! iJAG is truly preparing the next generation of Iowa’s workforce with one-on-one support, career prep, and the leadership skills they need to succeed.  

My team recently visited the Waukon City Hall and the Allamakee County Courthouse to meet with local leadership and hear what is on their minds. We will continue taking your stories back to DC so we can make Washington run a lot more Iowa. As always, it’s an honor to serve you all — let us know if my office can be of any assistance.