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WEEK IN REVIEW
As we continue to fight COVID-19 and work to safely return to our daily lives, I’m continuing to be a voice for Iowans in Washington – from our essential workers to small businesses, and so many more folks across our state.
Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Ernst’s remarks.
I’m working to ensure Iowans receive the critical support they need as we continue to navigate these challenging times. Here are some of the highlights of what I’ve been working on this week:
Restoring Justice for the Root Family
On the night of her graduation, Sarah Root, a twenty-one year-old Iowan from Council Bluffs, was struck and killed in Omaha by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk – three times over the legal limit.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks on the Senate floor.
Despite repeated requests by local law enforcement, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to detain Sarah’s killer, because of a nonsensical policy that allows ICE to use discretion when determining whether to detain a criminal alien charged with a violent offense. He posted bond, was released, and disappeared.
To ensure a tragedy like the killing of Sarah Root never happens again, I introduced a commonsense bill – Sarah’s Law – that would restore justice in our broken immigration system and hold criminals like Sarah’s killer accountable.
This week, I asked all of my Senate colleagues to pass Sarah’s Law. But Senate Democrats chose to block the bill.
Click here or on the image above to watch my response to Democrats blocking Sarah’s Law.
This is about justice for those families, like the Roots, who saw the death of their daughter at the hands of an illegal immigrant. I will never stop fighting to ensure justice is delivered to Root and her family.
Standing Up for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry
As a tireless advocate for Iowa’s farmers and biofuel producers, I’m continuing to push the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow through on its commitment to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – signed into law 15 years ago today.
The small refinery “gap year” waivers threaten to undercut the RFS, and the Department of Energy (DOE) wasted time and resources to score the waivers again. I’m demanding more transparency of this review process.
This week, I voted against the nominee for Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes and joined my fellow Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to push for greater transparency and certainty for Iowa’s farmers and producers, urging the DOE to provide information on their score of each RFS waiver.
Our farmers and producers continue to advance innovation in Iowa’s renewable fuel sector – and the RFS has played a key role in supporting these efforts. These advancements have allowed ethanol and biodiesel to maintain an environmental advantage over conventional fuels.
The EPA’s current greenhouse gas modeling system is outdated and fails to recognize the role biofuels play in greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why I’m cosponsoring a bill that would require the EPA to modernize their current system to help recognize the environmental benefits of biofuels.
Iowa farmers and biofuel producers know that I will never stop fighting to uphold the RFS and defend their way of life.
Increasing Access to COVID-19 Testing
As we work together to fight this virus, it’s critical that Iowans have access to affordable coronavirus testing. Reports that health insurers are exploiting loopholes to deny or restrict coverage for COVID-19 testing are egregious and completely unacceptable.
That’s why I’ve joined with colleagues in the Senate in supporting the Affordable Coronavirus Testing Act, which would eliminate current loopholes that insurance companies are using to restrict coverage for COVID-19 testing.
I will never stop fighting to support Iowans as we continue to combat COVID-19 and safely return to our daily lives.
Addressing the U.S. Olympics Abuse Scandal
The horrific abuses of hundreds of young athletes by Larry Nassar are appalling and unacceptable. Since this news broke, I’ve been working to prevent this type of tragedy from ever happening again.
As a survivor of sexual assault, I’ve been continuing to address the abuses within the U.S. Olympic system. This week, I helped pass a bill to ensure the resources designated for investigating abuses of Olympic and amateur athletes are safeguarded and put to proper use.
The Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act will increase oversight and accountability, out in place steps to prevent all forms of abuse, and help start the process of restoring trust and integrity within the U.S. Olympic system.
BONUS READ
During my 99 County Tour, I’ve heard directly from Iowans about their struggle to afford their prescription medication. That’s why I’m working on bipartisan legislation with Senator Chuck Grassley to drive down prescription drug prices.
Click here or on the image above to read more from Senator Grassley and I in our Des Moines Register column
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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