Fourth District Focus: Touring Mid-States Millwright and Builders in Nevada
Since I was first elected to Congress, I pledged that I would travel to all 36 counties in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District at least twice each year. It’s a promise that I’ve faithfully kept and dubbed my “36 County Tour.” To date, I have made more than 345 stops, meeting with Iowans and visiting hospitals, farms, schools, businesses, manufacturers, universities, community organizations, and many other places. Having real, face-to-face conversations with Iowans and is important to me, and allows me to take their suggestions and ideas to Washington to transform them into meaningful policy solutions.
Since 2021, I have visited Story County nine times to see firsthand how community and business leaders are working to fuel growth in their communities. That year, I stopped by Choice Medical in Ames to meet with employees and local leaders and visited Iowa State University to discuss a variety of topics including Iowa's population and its impact on workforce, partnerships with John Deere, and the importance of collaboration. In 2022, I toured the Verbio Biorefinery in Nevada and participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. I also joined Iowa State University President Wintersteen in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Ames National Laboratory. In 2023, I attended the Story County Pork Producers breakfast in Nevada and returned to my alma mater—Iowa State University—to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex.
This last year, I was back in Nevada to tour ALMACO—the oldest business in Story County. While there, I spoke with Story County job creators about my work to make immediate R&D expensing permanent and my priorities for the Farm Bill. I also once again returned to ISU to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. This state-of-the-art facility will ensure that we can protect our flocks and herds from animal diseases and keep Iowa an agricultural powerhouse.
For the first Story County stop on my 2025 installment of my 36 County Tour, I toured Mid-States Millwright and Builders in Nevada. After the tour, I held a roundtable discussion about the need to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, grow domestic manufacturing, and pass the Farm Bill. To encourage the growth of our small businesses, it is so important that we make important tax provisions of the TCJA—like 100% bonus depreciation—permanent. Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, I am doing the work to make sure our small businesses receive this necessary tax relief. Working on policy solutions for Iowa, I always welcome the opinions of fellow Iowans. Please feel free to reach out to our office online at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426 if we can be of assistance.
Being accessible to and transparent with Iowans will always be a top priority for me. Ensuring that the voice of my constituents is heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress is not only my mission, but also my humble responsibility. I look forward to visiting Pocahontas County again soon. We are government of the people, by the people, and for the people, so I encourage everyone to get involved and make their thoughts and opinions known.