My weekly column: Speaking with Treasury Secretary Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Rollins on Capitol Hill
On Wednesday June 11th, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins traveled to Capitol Hill to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, respectively. As the only member of Congress serving on these two pivotal committees, I had the opportunity to speak directly with these incredibly talented cabinet secretaries who are delivering on President Trump’s economic and agricultural agenda. I appreciate their willingness to come before Congress to discuss the historic work of the Trump administration on behalf of American families, farmers, workers, and small businesses.
During my conversation with Secretary Rollins, we both agreed that President Trump is fighting nonstop for the American farmer – and his agricultural policies prove that. I thanked Secretary Rollins for USDA’s unwavering commitment to Iowa biofuels producers who play a critical role in the Trump administration’s American energy dominance strategy. Homegrown biofuels lower gas prices for families, support our farmers, and reduce our dependence on foreign countries for our energy needs. By investing in biofuels, we are investing in the strength of Iowa agriculture and our rural communities.
I also received an update from Secretary Rollins about her work with President Trump to secure strong trade deals that benefit Iowa farmers. I noted that opening new export markets for Iowa commodities like corn, soybeans, ethanol, biodiesel, pork, grains, feeds, and other goods will be a financial boost for our farm producers. Secretary Rollins followed up by saying that she has already been to the United Kingdom and Italy and has upcoming trips to Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, and Brazil to discuss trade agreements. This is the type of energy and dedication that the Trump administration is using every day to level the playing field for farmers and hold foreign countries accountable to our trade laws. The unprecedented trade deal with the U.K. alone secured $700 million in U.S. ethanol exports and $250 million in U.S. beef shipments, and Vietnam has already announced that it would purchase $800 million in Iowa agricultural products. This is “promises made, promises kept” in action.
I further set the record straight about our work in President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” to protect SNAP and Medicaid for Americans in need. We are eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in these programs, including kicking 1.4 million illegal immigrants off Medicaid and banning illegal immigrants from using SNAP. These measures will ensure that American children, pregnant mothers, disabled individuals, and other vulnerable populations can receive the high-quality healthcare that they need and put food on the table.
Later that day, I spoke with Secretary Bessent when he testified before the Ways and Means Committee about President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill.” Secretary Bessent explained how this historic legislation will deliver for farmers and invest in our rural communities. For example, we strengthened Section 179 expensing to help our farmers finance new equipment purchases and increased the 199A deduction, which will lower taxes for farms and local agricultural businesses. I also specifically secured additional relief from the punitive death tax for our family farms and main street businesses and had my bills to lower the cost of crop insurance for the next generation of Iowa farmers and support our community banks included in our “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Secretary Bessent even reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to ensure that China upholds its agreements from the first Trump administration to buy more U.S. agricultural goods, which will deliver financial wins for agriculture.
Secretary Bessent additionally spoke to the importance of delivering certainty for American businesses and industry and making the Trump tax cuts permanent for families, farmers, and workers. President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” achieves this important goal. Moreover, Secretary Bessent discussed how President Trump’s three-pronged strategy of tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation will turbocharge our economy and reduce deficits. I completely agree and support this America First agenda.
Advocating for Iowa families, farmers, workers, businesses, and manufacturers in front of Secretary Rollins and Secretary Bessent was a privilege. I cannot overstate how President Trump and his administration are working day and night to deliver for the American people. Through fair trade deals and tax cuts to debt reduction and pro-growth economic policies, we will lower costs, increase wages, fuel prosperity, and usher in the Golden Age of America.