Friends,

Thank you for taking time to read my weekly update. Below you'll learn more about what I'm doing in Washington to support Iowans in the first district.

Telephone Town Hall

On Wednesday, I will be hosting my first telephone town hall of the year. If you would like to join, please call 833-380-0699 on Wednesday at 7:30 CST!

Black History Month

This month, during Black History Month, we honor the rich history of African Americans and their contributions to our nation.

Restoring Pre-COVID Norms

This January marked the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 entering the United States. When the virus first hit our shores, a public health emergency was declared to help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, after over a year of lockdowns, social distancing, and virtual learning, Americans (supported by the science) were ready to return to normalcy. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has ignored the needs of the American people and continued to extend the public health emergency. 

Over the last two years, the Biden administration has used the public health emergency to justify spending billions in taxpayer dollars—with little, if any, accountability. The president has also pushed authoritarian policies such as mask and vaccine mandates, both of which have proven not to stop transmission of the virus. With the availability of COVID vaccines, testing, treatments, infection acquired immunity and PPE, we should never have gotten to a point where people were forced to choose between getting a vaccine or keeping their job.

This week, my colleagues and I passed important legislation to help our nation return to normalcy and reign in the Biden administration’s overreach. I had the opportunity to speak on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on two pieces of legislation that would end this outdated, bloated government overreach.

H.R. 382, the Pandemic is Over Act, would terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency. Even though the virus is still circulating, President Biden rightfully claimed in September that the pandemic was over, and I agree. Yet he continues to extend the emergency declaration for his own political gain.

Additionally, I spoke in favor of  H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. This important piece of legislation would repeal the Biden administration’s CMS invasive vaccine requirement for healthcare professionals. CMS does not mandate any other vaccine for healthcare professionals. There was never an acknowledgment of immunity conferred by prior infection or that transmission occurred with vaccination.  Healthcare professionals, just like all Americans, are capable of making the decision with their doctor on the merits, risks and benefits of vaccination. 

These important pieces of legislation are just the first step in restoring trust in our government institutions following the COVID-19 pandemic. I was proud to voice my support to help pass these two bills, and I will continue fighting to ensure each individuals’ personal freedoms are protected, even while ensuring the public’s health. 

Iowans in DC

It is always great to meet with Iowans while they are in Washington! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to residents of the First District allows me to stay informed of what is going on in their communities and what I can do to help.

This week, members of the Iowa Bankers Association stopped by my office. We had a great conversation about burdensome federal regulations imposed by the Biden administration and what Congress can do to help.

Ed and Jessica, who are attorneys in Iowa, also stopped by my office. Together, we discussed ways to attract the next generation of lawyers to our state.

Students from Southeastern Iowa traveled to Washington D.C. this week to talk about how drugs are impacting their communities. I will continue to do everything I can to get fentanyl and other illicit drugs off our streets.

I finished my week by meeting with agricultural leaders in Iowa and representatives from Farmers for Free Trade to discuss our priorities for the upcoming farm bill.

Floor Speeches

On Monday I spoke on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize Governor Terry Branstad for being appointed President of the World Food Prize.

Founded by Iowa’s Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the World Food Prize Foundation aims to improve the availability of food and increase food security around the world. Each year, leaders in agriculture travel to Des Moines to address the latest global agriculture issues and recognize individuals who have made distinguished accomplishments in agriculture.

Governor Branstad was integral in creating the Iowa Hunger Summit during his time as Iowa’s longest-serving governor. The Iowa Hunger Summit has been instrumental in combatting food insecurity in Iowa and around the world. I can think of no better person for this job!

To watch my speeches recognizing Governor Branstad click HERE.

I also recognized the 60th anniversary of the Isabel Bloom shop in Davenport and what would be the 115th birthday of sculptor, Isabel Bloom.

Isabel Bloom was a Davenport native who attended the Art Institute of Chicago and the Vogue School of fashion. She and her husband married in 1938 before settling in Davenport with their three children in the early 40s. In 1963, Bloom and her husband opened a small studio in Davenport’s East Village.

Bloom received multiple awards for her ceramics, but perfected garden art to sell in her store. Because it was sturdy and weather-resistant, concrete became her preferred base.

Though ownership has since changed, the Isabel Bloom shop has continued to grow. The current owners, Donna Young, Cathy Nevins, and Bill Bennett, have stayed true to Bloom’s original vision—to create art that brings comfort and joy to their community. As an owner of a few Isabel Bloom pieces myself, I can say their vision rings true.

Congratulations to the Isabel Bloom Shop—I wish you many more years of creativity, friendship, and success.

To watch my speeches recognizing Isabel Bloom and her legacy click HERE.

Legislative Roundup

This week I joined Representative Jeff Duncan (SC-03) in introducing H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. This legislation would remove President Biden's vaccine mandate on healthcare workers. Instead of forcing a vaccine that hasn’t been proven to stop transmission, our focus should be to offer our healthcare professionals the support they need. There is plenty of information available about the vaccine—healthcare professionals, like everyone else, should be able to make the decision of whether to get vaccinated on their own.

I also joined Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04) in introducing Sarah's Law. This legislation would close an immigration loophole that allowed Sarah Root's killer to walk free. We are already facing an illegal immigration crisis at our southern border, but to think this administration is refusing to detain aliens charged with serious crimes is unconscionable. We must fix these loopholes, for Sarah’s family and others. We must fix these loopholes—for Sarah's family and others—who have been hurt by our broken system. We can't afford to have any more criminals running freely in our country.

I am a proud cosponsor of Representative Dan Newhouse's (WA-04) Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act. This legislation would direct the President of the United States to take action against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or foreign nationals affiliated with the CCP from purchasing public or private agricultural land. The Chinese Communist Party works tirelessly to infiltrate our nation and spread their influence, including through efforts to undermine our food supply. We should take every action necessary to prevent the CCP from taking over American farmland. Doing so will boost the American agriculture industry and our economy—all while curbing Chinese influence.

I also joined Representative Greg Steube (FL-17) in reintroducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This legislation allows women and girls a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This bill ensures that biological females compete against other biological females in women's competitive sports that are funded through Title IX.

I also voted in favor of the following bills:

• H.R. 290 - "To provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems"
• H.R. 342 - "To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require reporting relating to certain cost-share requirements."
• H.R. 500 - "To amend the Investment Company Act of 1940 to postpone the date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption of certain securities in the case of the financial exploitation of specified adults."
• H.R. 582 - "To amend the Federal Credit Union Act to modify the frequency of board of directors meetings"
• H.R. 298 - "To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to expand access to capital for rural-area small businesses"
• H.R. 497 - "Freedom for Health Care Workers Act"
• H.R. 382- "Pandemic is Over Act"
• H.R. 139 - "SHOW UP Act of 2023"
• H.J.Res. 7 - "Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020"
• H.Res.76 - "Removing a certain Member from a certain standing committee of the House"
• H.Con.Res.9 - "Denouncing the horrors of socialism"

Other News

This week, Ted O'Brien, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change and a member of the Australian Parliament stopped by my office. I enjoyed our conversation and I look forward to working together!

Floor Debate

This week I spoke in favor of H.R. 382, the Pandemic is Over Act. President Biden keeps extending this emergency, despite claiming that the pandemic is over. This legislation would end the public health emergency and help us begin our return to normalcy.

To watch my full remarks click HERE.

I also spoke in favor of H.R. 497, the Freedom for Healthcare Workers Act. We should not be forcing a vaccine mandate on anyone—let alone our healthcare professionals, who are plenty capable of making the decision to get vaccinated on their own.

To watch my full remarks click HERE.

Committee News

This week I spoke at the Energy & Commerce Hearing "American Energy Expansion: Strengthening Economic, Environmental, And National Security" and questioned witnesses about how the United States can continue to increase our energy supply to prevent rolling blackouts.

To view my remarks click HERE.

I also spoke at the Energy & Commerce Hearing "Lives Worth Living: Addressing The Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, And Combatting Discrimination Against Those With Disabilities." I asked our witnesses what Congress can do to help keep fentanyl and other illicit drugs off the streets.

To view my remarks click HERE and HERE.