Friend,

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. It is an opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and reflect on what really matters: our faith, our families, and our communities. While there have been many challenges in our lives over the past year, I am continually inspired by Iowans’ resilience, strength, and grace. This Christmas, I am blessed to have time with Matt, Max, Jax, and Bandit – we’ll be staying safe and warm from the winter storms, watching our favorite Christmas movies, and putting out milk and cookies for Santa!

Isaiah 6:9: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

I am wishing you and your families a very merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season. 

Read on for an update on the final legislative week of the year! 

Best,

Today, Congress voted on a nearly $2 trillion omnibus spending bill – it was full of wasteful spending during this time of record inflation, and failed to secure our border during the worst border crisis in modern history. I voted no. 

On the wasteful spending front, this bill includes $2.3 million to advertise President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation scheme, $575 million for “family planning” in areas where “population growth threatens biodiversity,” and hundreds of millions of dollars for gender equity programs at home and abroad. These are not appropriate or acceptable uses of taxpayer dollars. 

Iowans remain concerned and frustrated about the worsening crisis at our Southern Border – they want Congress, and the Administration, to act. I was very disappointed that this legislation failed to address the crisis at our border. In fact, it undermines immigration enforcement and will further incentivize illegal immigration. Read more about the worst border provisions in the legislation here. 

We must restore fiscal responsibility and secure our border. The incoming House Republican majority will do both. 

215 Members of Congress are “proxy voting” this week – proxy voting is when a Member signs a document saying they can’t vote in person because of the “ongoing public health emergency.” Then, another Member of Congress votes on their behalf on the House floor. 

The COVID-19 health emergency is over and Americans across this country have long been back to work. Those that represent them should be too. It’s unacceptable that over 200 of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, aren’t here in person to vote on the nearly $2 trillion omnibus bill – which I voted against on the House Floor.



I get it. Of course folks want to be home with their family for Christmas, and wanted to get out of here before flights were canceled because of the storm. I’d love to be with my family right now, but Iowans entrusted me to be their voice in Washington, and they didn’t have me voting from Cedar Rapids in mind when they did so.

I have never voted by proxy nor have I proxy voted for another Member on the House floor. Proxy voting has been abused by Members of both parties. It’s bad for the country and for the institution and I’m glad it will be coming to an end in January.

The team at Clarity Clinic in Dubuque is doing inspiring work to help expecting moms and new parents in the community. They provide loving support for children, moms, and dads alike. It was great to see their efforts firsthand this week and we are so lucky to have them as a force for good right here in Dubuque.

One of the best parts of this job is calling young Iowans to give them the good news they’ve been nominated to one of our nation’s service academies!

Congratulations to the students who were nominated -- they will make Iowa and our country proud.