Fourth District Focus: My roundtable discussion with the Department of Labor Job Corps in Denison
On February 21st, my 36 County Tour once again led me to Crawford County. On my 36 County Tour in 2024, I had two stops in Crawford County — the Crossroads of Crawford County, a pregnancy resource center, and the Lineage cold storage facility — where I heard from constituents on rural healthcare concerns and the need for expanded refrigeration infrastructure.
This time around, I met with the Department of Labor Job Corps for a roundtable discussion about the work that can be done for employers and their employees on our rural main streets. The Job Corps — which has been in operation for over 50 years — is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country. It provides students with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in the modern workforce.
Having worked in the private sector for many years, I’ve been a strong advocate for policies that strengthen our workforce. Last Congress, I introduced the Upward Mobility Enhancement Act to help lower the cost of education for workers and help employers recruit and train a skilled workforce. We must connect education with concrete skills that prepare young people for careers in a wide array of industries — like bricklaying, building construction technology, and pharmacy tech — and support continuing education and skills development for folks who have been in the workforce for decades. We can achieve these goals by making it easier for businesses to invest in their employees’ education through a simpler, more efficient tax code.
The Biden administration’s inflationary economic plan —Bidenomics— left Iowa’s small businesses and their employees under a lot of financial pressure. Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, one of my top priorities in Congress is extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. If the TCJA is allowed to expire, Iowans will lose critical tax relief they depend on. Prior to the enactment of TCJA, Iowa small businesses were paying exorbitant amounts in taxes – draining limited capital that could be deployed to hire new employees, make investments, and upgrade their technology. With the creation of the 20% tax cut for small businesses, entrepreneurs and employers have been able to increase wages for their workers, keep their doors open, and give back to our local communities through donations and charity.
Since 2021, I have made more than 320 stops on my 36 County Tour, and I look forward to my next visit to Crawford County!