Friend,

This week, President Biden doubled down on his failed energy agenda and announced plans to release 15 million more barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. When OPEC+ announced production cuts last week, President Biden’s first call should have been to American producers, including Iowa’s biofuel producers. Instead, he chose to drain our emergency reserves even further. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is meant to be used in the case of national emergencies, like severe weather, not for political convenience.

Unfortunately, it has become apparent that President Biden would allow our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to hit zero rather than unleash domestic energy options that could lower gas and utility prices and bolster our national security. Draining our emergency reserves is shortsighted and is further jeopardizing our energy security.

That is why I helped introduce the Strategically Lowering Gas Prices Act that would prohibit the President from tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve while blocking domestic production – if the President won’t do this on his own, we must force him to do so and hold his Administration accountable for their failed energy agenda. 

Energy dependence was a choice made by the Biden Administration and Speaker Pelosi. We had affordable gas, full oil reserves, and robust domestic production until President Biden and Speaker Pelosi systematically undercut our energy independence, leading to the shortages and high costs Americans are experiencing today. 

I will continue advocating for an all-of-the-above energy strategy that prioritizes Iowa biofuels so that we can lower prices at the pump and utility bills, and protect our national security. 

Read on below for more information about my work for Iowans this week!

Best,

I am very concerned by the increased crime across the country – we have to keep our communities safe. This week, I introduced the bipartisan Gang Activity Reporting Act. This bill ensures our law enforcement has the tools necessary to combat gang violence, prevent gang recruitment, and get deadly fentanyl and meth out of our communities. I’ll continue working to combat crime and improve public safety. 

I had the opportunity to read to Mrs. Werkmen's Fourth Grade class at Kenwood Leadership Academy in Cedar Rapids. We read T-Rex Trick-or-Treats and The Frog Principal!

President Biden and Speaker Pelosi continue to put the border crisis out of sight and out of mind, and hope the American people will too. As of today, the Administration still hasn’t released the September border numbers – they’re trying to hide the worsening crisis from the American people. Despite this dodge, Iowans and all Americans know there is a massive crisis at our Southern Border. 

I wrote a letter to Secretary Mayorkas demanding he release the most recent information about the border crisis – Americans deserve transparency and accountability.

My team attended the groundbreaking for the Sunflower Child Care Center in Decorah. I was proud to secure federal funding to help them expand — as of last year they had 130 kids on their waiting list! Ensuring families have access to affordable, reliable child care will continue to be a top priority for me! 

This week, my team visited a farm in Iowa County to hear directly from farmers about their harvest. Thankful for our farmers who are working around the clock to feed and fuel the world!

📰 Breitbart: Exclusive — Rep. Ashley Hinson: Biden 'Needs to Own Up' to Border Failures, Release Border Data