Friend, This week, I attended President Biden’s State of the Union address. I went in with an open mind and hoped to hear him take some accountability for the policies that have failed Iowans, present a plan to secure our Southern Border, and say that he would finally cut wasteful spending. Unfortunately, he did none of those things – he doubled down on his two years of policy failures that have resulted in record high inflation, open borders, and America’s name being tarnished on the world stage. Rest assured, I will continue to push back on the policies that hurt Iowans, while seeking common ground where possible. For example, President Biden and I both agree that we can and must do more to improve veterans’ mental health care access, and I was glad to hear him mention his willingness to work on that shared priority in this week’s speech. Those are my thoughts on President Biden’s State of the Union address, but I want to hear from you. Take my poll HERE and let me know if you liked the speech, if you feel like it missed the mark, and share any other thoughts you may have. Your feedback helps me best serve you. Best, Upcoming Grundy County Town Hall Meeting I am excited to host my first in-person town hall meeting of 2023 this coming Monday, February 13th in Grundy County! This will be my 21st in-person town hall to hear directly from Iowans and take your unfiltered questions. Time and location details are below – I look forward to the conversation! Grundy County Town Hall Monday, February 13th 9:30 AM CT Grundy Center Community Center 705 F Ave Grundy Center, IA 50638 SOTU Guest Sgt. Trent Dirks & Tracer This week, I was honored to host retired U.S. Army Sergeant Trent Dirks and his service dog Tracer as my guests for the State of the Union address. Sgt. Dirks, like many veterans, suffered from PTSD following deployment. He was able to find the support he needed through Retrieving Freedom, an organization in Waverly dedicated to training service dogs for veterans. Sgt. Dirks and Tracer joined me at the U.S. Capitol to discuss the importance of improving access to veterans' mental health care and service dogs. Watch the visit recap HERE. Condemning the Chinese Communist Party Spy Balloon This week, I voted along with my Democrat and Republican colleagues, to condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for using a spy balloon to surveil the United States and collect sensitive information. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the CCP's surveillance state. We must crack down on CCP surveillance tactics, whether in the sky or on our phones, to protect individual data and national security. I look forward to doing so as a Member of the Select Committee on the CCP. Letter Urging EPA to Allow Year-Round E15 I joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-WI), and Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN-01) in sending a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline and ethanol blends in Midwest states. Iowa biofuels are the commonsense solution to immediately reduce prices at the pump. The EPA must stop dragging its feet and grant the Governors' request for E15 to be sold year-round. The infrastructure is at the ready to meet consumer demand this summer – our farmers and fuel retailers just need certainty. Iowa Farm Bureau It is always great to meet with members of the Iowa Farm Bureau. We discussed the need to reduce regulatory overreach, how to expand trade opportunities for farmers, and our strategy to ensure Iowa’s priorities are included in the 2023 Farm Bill. American Flood Coalition Iowans know the devastating impacts of flooding all too well. I joined the American Flood Coalition (AFC) to speak on why these issues hit so close to home. I am so proud to work with AFC on innovative, forward looking solutions to build flood-resilient communities and protect Iowa homes and businesses from future flood events. Iowa National Guard Officers Association I had a great meeting with the Iowa National Guard Officers Association in Washington, DC. We discussed how we can support the readiness and capabilities of the Guard in Iowa. Thank you to all who serve! Headline Highlights Globe Gazette: Hinson announces Amey veteran as State of the Union guest CNN: GOP congresswoman says Biden 'failed the test' with suspected Chinese spy balloon KWWL: Iowa lawmakers respond to State of the Union Fox News: GOP lawmakers bring Afghanistan veterans to State of the Union, say ‘answers’ still needed on 2021 withdrawal Facebook Twitter Instagram Stay Connected Rep. Hinson | 1717 Longworth House Office Building, 15 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]