My Weekly Column
On October 16th, I hosted a telephone town hall with more than 7,500 Iowans. I provided an update on what’s happening in Congress and answered questions about important issues ranging from tax cuts and trade to agriculture and manufacturing.
If Democrats had succeeded and President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts were not passed on July 4th this year, families, farmers, and small businesses would have faced the largest tax increase in U.S. history.
Two years ago on October 7th, 2023, the world watched in horror as vicious Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdered nearly 1,200 innocent Israelis, burned entire communities to the ground, and took hundreds of people hostage. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has no regard for human nor any remorse for its violent actions.
In October, our country celebrates Manufacturing Month and recognizes the critical importance of manufacturing to our economy. Domestic manufacturing supports good-paying jobs in our communities, strengthens our supply chains, and helps reduce our dependence on foreign nations for the goods and products that Iowans need and rely on.
Born and raised in rural Iowa, expanding access to high-quality, affordable healthcare in our rural communities is personal for me. Regardless of zip code, our families, seniors, and veterans should not have to travel long distances or jump through headache-inducing hoops to get the care they deserve or the prescriptions they need.
Meeting with Iowa veterans and ensuring that, as a grateful state and nation, we support these heroes through the best healthcare and services that we have to offer is a top priority for me.
In 1961, the United States Congress passed the first National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Then, and in every conflict since, our brave men and women at home and overseas relied on Congress to authorize new programs, procure advanced weapons, and make quality-of-life improvements for servicemembers.
When President Trump returned to the Oval Office early this year, he immediately announced a new and much-needed plan for the United States’s national security — “Peace through strength.” President Trump assumed the presidency with the world on fire.
In the 1930s, the Social Security Act was enacted to protect American seniors from poverty, unemployment, and other issues. Over the years, the benefits provided by this law have grown to become a crucial safety net for our seniors and retirees.
On Wednesday August 20th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would begin to formally implement legislation that I introduced to lower the cost of crop insurance for the next generation of Iowa farmers and producers.