|
WEEK IN REVIEW
During my 99 County Tour, I’ve had the opportunity to hear directly from Iowans about the issues important to them.
This week, I brought their concerns back to Washington and have continued to work on a number of issues – including support for our essential workers, veterans and servicemembers, farmers and producers, and families.
Click here or on the image above to watch a video recap of my recent 99 County Tour stops.
Here are some of highlights from what I’ve been working on:
Fighting for Our Essential Workers
Throughout COVID-19, our front line workers – including our nurses, truck drivers, child care providers, grocery store workers, and so many others – have continued in their daily jobs to care for and protect Iowans, to produce and deliver food and essential goods, and to uphold our nation’s critical infrastructure.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks on my FRNT LINE Act.
These hardworking Iowans have made great sacrifices as our state and nation continue to grapple with the coronavirus. That’s why I introduced a bill to allow these essential workers to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.
Under my bill – the FRNT LINE Act, federal income taxes would be suspended for essential workers up to an annual income cap set at the highest level of pay for an enlisted person in the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill would also suspend federal payroll taxes for essential workers who earn up to $50,000 annually.
Each and every morning, our front line workers wake up and go to work, and they should be rewarded for their selfless service.
Protecting Our Troops
As a combat veteran and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I was proud to help pass the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the Senate this week.
This year’s bipartisan defense bill includes a number of my priorities, including provisions to support our troops and their families, address military sexual assault, promote new technologies, preserve tax dollars, provide hazard pay to our National Guard Troops, and ensure our female soldiers have proper-fitting body armor.
Iowa plays a critical role in helping maintain our national defense. I spoke with Colonel Stephanie Samenus of the Iowa National Guard about her experience in the Guard and their ongoing efforts to help Iowa’s communities during COVID-19.
Click here or on the image above to watch our conversation.
I’m proud to have helped passed the NDAA to harness Iowa’s critical contributions to our nation’s defense. What we do in this national defense bill matters to our warfighters on the front lines.
Holding China Accountable
Whether it’s cheating on trade deals, stealing our intellectual property, or mishandling the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese Communist Party does not play by the rules.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks on the Senate floor.
While China is an important trade partner for Iowa’s farmers, I’m working to reduce our dependency on China for critical supplies and manufacturing, and help bring jobs back home.
I’m also holding the communist regime accountable when it comes to their mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak. China’s dangerous, disease-prone wet markets have been a contributing factor to the spread of COVID-19 – and the federal government should not be subsidizing these filthy wet markets.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks.
During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, I discussed my bill that will ban American taxpayer dollars from being spent at China’s unregulated wet markets ever again.
Along with attempting to cover up the COVID-19 outbreak, China is also defying the law by collecting information about Americans using social media apps like TikTok. That’s why I’m working on a bill that would ban the use of TikTok on government devices – and it advanced in the Senate this week.
Supporting Our Working Families and Small Business Owners
Throughout this pandemic, I’ve continued to listen to and hear from Iowans in all corners of our state. I hosted a telephone town hall with Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, to answer questions directly from Iowans and discuss my latest COVID-19 relief efforts.
Click here or on the image above to read more about my telephone town hall.
This week’s discussion was another opportunity to connect with folks and discuss the work I’m doing for our families, like supporting our child care providers and fighting for additional diaper assistance.
Fighting to Lower Rx Drug Costs
Even before this pandemic, Iowans were faced with the crisis of rising drug costs. That’s why I’ve joined my fellow Iowan Senator Chuck Grassley in putting forward the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA) of 2020.
The bill – which originally passed out of the Senate Finance Committee on a bipartisan 19-9 vote, including all committee Democrats – will save patients billions of dollars in out-of-pocket medical care costs and reduce premiums.
On the Senate floor, I called on my colleagues across the aisle to come together to advance solutions that drive down prescription drug prices.
Iowans have made it clear that they want to see Congress take action to lower the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues to do just that.
Fighting for Our Farmers and Producers
Folks throughout Iowa’s agriculture community have been hit hard by COVID-19. That’s why I’m working to help these farmers get the relief they need.
On a call with the Iowa Turkey Federation, I discussed my efforts and other ways we can help these hardworking farmers get through this pandemic. I also heard from folks with the Iowa Corn Growers Association about their challenges and discussed my continued fight to expand biofuel infrastructure and uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as the importance of finding more trade opportunities.
I will never stop fighting for Iowa’s hardworking farmers and producers and will continue to ensure they have the support they need during this pandemic.
Ending Taxpayer Funding for Anarchy
If city officials and state leaders allow anarchy to continue on our streets, American taxpayers aren’t going to pay for it. My Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act will prevent federal funding from going to anarchist jurisdictions.
This week, I urged the administration to prevent federal funding for anarchist jurisdictions and to report the amount of taxpayer dollars used to enable autonomous zones.
Support for my bill continues to grow and I will keep fighting to ensure Iowa taxpayers aren’t used to promote anarchy.
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!
|
