24 County Tour

It is always great to meet with Iowans as I travel across the second district! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to Iowans allows me to stay informed about what is happening in their communities and what I can do to help!

I recently toured National Seating and Mobility in Iowa City to see how their wheelchairs allow users to remain mobile and independent. I was also impressed by their innovative solutions to help ease everyday tasks.

I also traveled to Burlington to kick off the "Walk to End Alzheimer's" and reaffirmed my commitment to finding a cure for Alzheimer's and supporting those who have the disease, their families, and caregivers. I will continue to support legislation that supports research and funding to find a cure.

It was an honor to visit Gary Rees' farm on National Farmer's Day to talk about his harvest this year and the upcoming farm bill. Farmers and producers are the backbone of our economy in Iowa, and it's important any future legislation doesn't hurt their ability to run successful operations.

I hosted a roundtable at the University of Iowa to highlight the Simulation in Motion-Iowa program which provides clinical continuing education to EMS and hospital professionals.

I finished my week touring Big River Resources. Big River receives roughly 120,000 bushels of corn daily and is able to produce nearly 500 million gallons of ethanol each year. Facilities like Big River help Iowa to lead the nation in ethanol and renewable fuel production.

Canceling Student Debt Hurts Middle-Class Americans

When I enrolled in community college at sixteen and decided that I hoped to be a doctor, I knew that my education would be costly and that student loans would be required. However, through my service in the United States Army, and with a balanced budget, I was able to pay back my student loans in a timely manner.

Student loans allow millions of students across the country to receive a college education to pursue their dream careers. However, when one takes out a student loan, they have a responsibility to pay the loan back, just like a mortgage or bank loan. Most people who take out a loan to pay for college though do not know the full extent and responsibilities of the loan and are left in with an immense amount of debt.

That is why I introduced the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2022, which would require universities to provide loan counseling to students seeking federal loans. This bill would help ensure students are equipped to make the financial commitment. Additionally, it would provide students with ways to lower their student loans, such as scholarships and work-studies.

President Biden’s decision to forgive student loans does nothing to alleviate the problem of college tuition and fees increasing exponentially. This decision is irresponsible, it's unfair, and undercuts students who work to afford tuition and parents who for years saved money to offer their children the opportunity of a college education.

This is a debt transfer and places the burden of repaying loans on those who chose not to pursue a college education and on those who are responsibly paying back their own debt. The Biden administration originally ignored requests from the media about how much this plan would cost taxpayers saying that it would not raise taxes. However, last week the Department of Education released a statement that this decision will cost taxpayers $30 billion annually over the next decade. These are funds that could be used to secure our southern border and keep Americans safe, instead hardworking Iowans are forced to pay more in taxes.

I also joined Ranking Member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, Virginia Foxx (NC-5) in a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office to review the action taken by the administration to determine if this action is legal. Any action that costs the taxpayers an estimated $469 billion to $519 billion requires a formal submission to Congress.

Instead of doing a one-time cancelation that only affects certain groups, the Biden administration should prioritize lowering the cost of college and expanding resources for those taking out loans to fully understand the commitment.  

In the News

This week I spoke with NTD's Steve Lance to discuss gas prices and the need for America to become energy independent.

To watch my full interview click HERE.

I also spoke to Fox News about how the Army is penalizing soldiers seeking religious accommodation to the vaccine mandate. While I encourage everyone who is medically able to get vaccinated, I think it's unacceptable that soldiers are being kicked out of the Army for refusing the vaccine, especially given the vaccine doesn't prevent transmission.  Our Army is struggling to recruit and retain members. Instead of implementing unnecessary vaccine requirements and leaning into woke culture, the Army should shift its focus to strengthen our forces.

To read the full article click HERE.

Legislative Roundup

Access to emergency and primary healthcare services are basic quality of life issues of communities of any size. Last week I joined Senator Grassley in a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to seek assurance that the Keokuk hospital is eligible for a rural emergency hospital designation in the future. 

Full text of the letter can be found HERE.

I also joined Representative Stephanie Bice (OK-05) in a letter to the Department of the Interior demanding the Biden Administration resume the sale of federal oil and gas leases to combat the energy crisis and move towards energy independence.

To read more details click HERE.

I joined Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) in submitting an amicus brief for the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case, Sackett v. EPA. As Members of the Congressional Western Caucus and representatives of rural America, we understand that our communities are committed to clean water and conservation, protecting private property, and land-use rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and landowners deserve certainty, and it is our hope that the Supreme Court will finally put an end to this regulatory confusion.

Lastly, I joined Representative Scott Franklin (FL-15) in introducing the Simplifying Grants Act. This bill will make it easier for small governments to apply for, receive, and manage federal grants, which will help communities across southeast Iowa.