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Friends, 

This week I voted with a bipartisan majority of my colleagues in Congress to address the ongoing gun violence epidemic in America. In recent weeks, we've seen too many young lives lost — from children who were shot and killed in an elementary school in Texas to two young women gunned down in a church parking lot here in Iowa — and it was long past time for Congress to act.

These measures passed by the House will help protect our children and our own safety by keeping semi-automatic weapons out of the hands of teenagers and people at risk, and make it harder to obtain bump stocks and high-capacity magazines.

We all have a right to go to grocery stores, movie theaters, churches, and schools without being afraid for our safety and I am glad I was able to join my colleagues in the House in taking action to help fight back against the horrific mass shootings that have happened in our country. 

I've also been hard at work fighting for Iowa's biofuels producers and farmers, shoring up our supply chain to help drive down prices, and ensuring everyone has access to quality housing. 

To learn more about what I've been working on, continue reading: 

More Good News for Biofuels

The United States Department of Agriculture has announced the final rule to set Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels back on track and end the abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions, bringing more good news to the biofuels industry.

I have been pressuring the Biden Administration to continue supporting our biofuels producers and this shows President Biden understands the important role the biofuels industry plays in supporting Iowa farmers and rural communities while reducing the price at the pump for consumers.

After the previous administration abused Small Refinery Exemptions – resulting in the loss of over 4 billion gallons of ethanol – and ignored the law by not releasing a 2021 level, this final rule will set the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) back on track with a robust 2022 level and provide certainty for Iowa farmers.

Secretary Vilsack also announced that the USDA has awarded $700 million in Biofuel Relief Program Payments to producers who suffered market loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked to secure this aid in the CARES Act and urged then-Secretary Perdue to assist biofuel producers in April of 2020. 

Fighting for Investments in Rural Iowa

This week, I joined members of the New Democrat Coalition Rural Reinvestment Taskforce in writing to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the Department of Commerce to ensure rural America is a top priority when distributing funds and resources made available in bipartisan innovation legislation.

The bipartisan innovation legislation will promote American leadership, security and competitiveness and will counter the influence and market abuses of adversarial powers. This will help ease long-term inflationary pressures, grow our economy and diversify our domestic supply chains.

Too often Iowa's rural communities miss out on these types of federal funding that would propel them forward. The upcoming supply chain and innovation investments present a golden opportunity to tap into the workforce and resources that exist in those communities. 

By prioritizing rural America in these investments, we will boost American competitiveness in the global economy while creating jobs in Iowa. I am going to keep fighting to make sure Iowa gets its fair share. 

Securing Safe, Quality Housing Options

I introduced new legislation to ensure landlords who are receiving federal backing from the USDA and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development are maintaining safe and quality housing.

Many housing units offered by USDA and HUD have fallen behind on maintenance and upkeep, due in large part to a lack of investment. I have been disturbed to read reports that some Iowans are living in filthy and unsafe conditions while renting federally subsidized housing. 

Renters deserve more oversight of federally backed housing to ensure they have quality, affordable places to live, and that's why my Safe at Home Act will help identify which oversight procedures best protect residents. 

Adding to the Veterans History Project Collection

The Library of Congress has a wonderful collection of audio and video interviews with veterans across the nation, along with pieces of memorabilia collected from more than 100,000 veterans. Journalism students at Drake University recently interviewed nine veterans and submitted them to my office for inclusion in that collection, called the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center.

With the help of the students, I was able to submit the stories of nine veterans, which will be preserved so that future generations can hear first-hand accounts of the service, bravery and sacrifice these veterans displayed while serving our country.

I am thankful for all our veterans, and for the students at Drake University who helped tell each of their stories.

Be well, 

Cindy