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Friends, 

As the third round of expanded Child Tax Credit payments begin to reach Iowa families, we're seeing new data detailing how this benefit is putting $157 million a month back into Iowa's economy through payments to more than 340,000 Iowa families.

I have been fighting to extend the Child Tax Credit expansion that my colleagues and I passed in March, because it is not only helping a vast majority of Iowans with children, it's creating an estimated $19.3 billion in local economic activity across the U.S.

That money is vital to our local businesses and for families who are trying to make ends meet as they raise their children. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden came to Iowa last week to help me highlight the importance of the Child Tax Credit, but that's not all I have been working on.

Keep reading to learn more about what I've been up to this month. 

Highlighting Child Care with First Lady Jill Biden

Dr. Jill Biden joined me for an event at Des Moines Area Community College last week to highlight all of the wonderful ways the Child Tax Credit is already helping Iowa - and how the Build Back Better Act that we're crafting in Congress would not only extend that Credit, but also invest in more child care, education, and job opportunities for Iowans.

I can't tell you the number of times that I've heard from Iowans at my town halls how the lack of child care is affecting their families, business, and communities.

I fundamentally believe that child care is an urgent infrastructure issue. It's keeping Iowa parents from returning to work or taking a new job. It's preventing employers from hiring the staff they need to grow their businesses. And in states like Iowa with some of the highest percentages of families that have both parents working full time this isn't a challenge we can ignore.

My colleagues and I are putting together a budget that invests in the issues most impactful to Iowans, and Dr. Biden and I both believe that the expansion of child care should be one of those priorities.

With those investments, and an extension of the expanded Child Tax Credit, we can ensure Iowa's working families have the support and foundation they need to raise their family well and find prosperity in Iowa for generations to come.

Continuing to Invest in Biofuels, Iowa's Rural Communities

I've been leading the fight to make sure biofuels investments are included in the Build Back Better Act, and in my last newsletter I shared that $1 billion in funding for biofuels infrastructure will be included in the legislation.

I'm pleased to share that the Build Back Better Act also includes a nine-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit, which would ensure support for our biodiesel industry into the next decade.

These investments are important for Iowans since the biofuels industry not only keeps our air cleaner, but also puts more than 65,000 Americans to work.

The Build Back Better Act is also set to include my Rural Equal Aid Act, which would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture $400 million to give rural small businesses similar loan relief that urban borrowers received last year. Our Main Street businesses in rural Iowa are no less deserving of federal relief efforts. This money is vital and would help keep our favorite businesses open and our small towns thriving. 

$1,000,000,000 for Affordable Housing in Iowa

Access to safe, affordable housing is the bedrock on which all other success and prosperity is built.

That's why I've been working in the Financial Services Committee to see housing investments are included in our Build Back Better Act. And I'm pleased to share that earlier this month we finalized our housing portion of that bill, which is projected to bring back more than $1 billion in affordable housing investments back to Iowa. 

As Vice Chair of the Financial Services Committee's Housing Subcommittee, I have been fighting to bring more affordable housing options to central and southwest Iowa. And as we're finalizing future investments, my past work is still paying dividends to Iowa's Third District.

Last week, I helped announce a $8.8 million HUD grant that will help pay for the construction of 100 new affordable housing options for low-income older Iowans in Des Moines. This grant is made possible by money I helped secure in last year's federal budget.

Being able to fight for projects that directly impact the lives of Iowans is one of the best parts of my job. We have a busy few weeks coming up as Congress looks to finalize the Build Back Better Act, and I look forward to continuing to fight for the people of Iowa's Third Congressional District. 

Be well, 

Cindy