My Weekly Column

During National Police Week, we pause to recognize and thank our police and law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. These heroes dedicate their careers to public safety and make incredible sacrifices to keep our families safe.

Every year, during National Small Business Week, we recognize and celebrate the contributions that our small businesses make to our economy and our communities.

April 29^th marked 100 days of promises kept under President Trump. Like he pledged on the campaign trail, he has mobilized every tool at his disposal to make America strong again and reverse the failed policies pushed by the Biden administration.

Since I was first elected to Congress, I pledged that I would travel to all 36 counties in our district – Iowa’s 4^th Congressional District – at least twice each year. From Tuesday April 22^nd to Thursday April 24^th, I upheld that promise by meeting with Iowans in 12 different counties, marking nearly 350 individual stops completed over the last few years.

In the United States, there are approximately 370,000 children in the foster care system with about 117,000 waiting to be adopted. While the number of kids in foster care has fortunately declined over the decades, there is still more work to be done to ensure that every child can find a permanent, loving home as quickly and safely as possible.

Instead of my usual thoughts on policy debates or various pieces of legislation that I have either introduced or support, I decided that I wanted to share a week in my life representing our families, farmers, workers, and businesses on Capitol Hill.

Opening new export markets for Iowa farmers increases demand for our agricultural commodities and puts more money into the pockets of our producers. This is an especially important mission after four years of indifference and inaction under the Biden administration when President Biden failed to negotiate a single new trade agreement that would benefit agriculture.

Beginning on March 24^th, we observed Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. Every year, this week serves as an important reminder of the precautions that we should all take to keep ourselves and our families safe. Stocking up on bottled water, keeping flashlights and batteries in accessible areas, and having an emergency plan are just a few examples of common safety measures.