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“2019 Was a Great Year!”
Ernst Continues Fighting Relentlessly for Iowans
Dear friends
2019 was a great year, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to help Iowa’s farmers and producers, to support our families and communities impacted by the terrible spring floods, to lower the costs of health care and prescription drugs, and to get trade deals finalized.
Click here or on the image above to watch a recap of some of my 2019 highlights.
From securing E15 year-round, to breaking ground on the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, and from seeing my FARMERS FIRST Act in action providing mental health resources for farmers, to having my veterans billthe HAVEN Actsigned into law, I’ve continued to fight RELENTLESSLY to deliver real results for Iowans this year.
Some highlights from 2019:
- Upholding Renewable Fuels Secured E15 year-round by the summer driving season; negotiated an agreement with the White House to guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol and continued to pressure EPA to fulfill the agreement; successfully included the biodiesel tax credit in the year-end tax package.
- Providing flood relief Broke ground on the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project, following years of relentless efforts to secure $117 million; passed a federal disaster relief package to support Iowans, which included a provision to extend USDA funds to cover Iowa farmers who had lost stored grain.
- Fighting for Iowa’s farmers Provided critical mental health support to farmers through my FARMERS FIRST Act; forced House Democrats to finally get on board with supporting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USCMA) trade deal, after they delayed for more than a year.
- Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Advanced three bills in the U.S. Senate to push down drug costs for Iowans, one of which was signed into law and will help increase competition in the marketplace.
- Combating Sexual Assault Authored legislation to reauthorize and modernize the Violence Against Women Act; successfully secured provisions in the annual defense bill to expand support for victims in military.
- Veterans Secured support for veterans facing financial hardship through my HAVEN Act which was signed into law; held the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable for failures in its veteran suicide prevention programs.
- National Security Had nearly all of my provisions included in the final National Defense Authorization Act; visited U.S. troops, including a number of Iowans, deployed in Kuwait and Afghanistan the week of Thanksgiving.
- Make ‘Em Squeal Pushed to cut future former presidents’ unlimited perks; called for federal agency headquarters to be housed closer to the heartland and outside of the DC beltway; cracked down on government projects that are over-budget and beyond schedule; issued my monthly Squeal Award to highlight some of the most egregious waste in our government.
Another year also means another 99 counties in the books! For the fifth time, I’ve completed my 99 County Tour, holding 35 town halls in every corner of our statefrom rural areas like Red Oak, to Iowa’s most populated area, Polk County. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, I’ve now held a public event in every single county in Iowa.
Click here or on the image above to watch a recap of my 99 County Tour.
Folks, there’s plenty to build on in the year ahead, and I look forward to continuing to fight relentlessly for each and every one of our fellow Iowans.
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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