My Weekly Column

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. Conflicts raging across the Middle East and eastern Europe, a nuclear Iran enriching uranium to dangerous levels and supplying arms to our other adversaries, and an emboldened China. “Peace through strength” was not just a moniker, it was a message to our enemies across the globe that we were no longer going to lead from behind.

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. Each year, approximately 57.6 million people aged 65 or older receive Social Security benefits and about 40% of older Americans rely solely on Social Security for their retirement income. Without Social Security, 37% of older adults would fall below the poverty line. 

On Wednesday August 20^th, 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. My bill – the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act – was included in President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” that was signed into law on Independence Day and marked the largest investment in the farm economy in decades. With this bold and rapid action spearheaded by U.S.

Among several issues that Americans report as their highest priorities, a strong economy usually tops the list. That makes complete sense. After all, a strong economy means bigger paychecks, more jobs, and greater opportunities for families, farmers, workers, and businesses in Iowa and nationwide to thrive. Like my fellow Iowans and Americans, a strong economy where businesses can grow, farms can invest, and families can keep more of their hard-earned money is also a top priority for me.

On July 4^th, President Trump signed one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in American history into law. Among a wide range of benefits, H.R. 1—commonly known as the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”—shielded Americans from the largest tax hike in history, expanded on the successful tax cuts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), funded security at our southern border, and enhanced our national security.

Global trade is a crucial component of the American economy, ensuring that our businesses, manufacturers, and farmers can sell their high-quality goods across the world and make continued investments in our country. However, for decades, foreign nations have taken advantage of the American marketplace by illegally dumping products at our ports, a common practice by China, and imposing baseless and unscientific restrictions on U.S. exports.

On Wednesday, July 23^rd, I spoke at a House Agriculture Committee hearing to discuss the harmful impacts of California’s Proposition 12, or Prop 12, on Iowa hog farmers and our rural communities. Enacted in 2018, this notorious state measure is incredibly detrimental to producers in Iowa and nationwide. Since I was elected to Congress, I have been fighting back against this dangerous regulation of our agricultural economy and way of life.

On Wednesday July 16^th, I had the privilege of being at the White House when President Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. Joined by families who have tragically lost loved ones and children to an overdose, the ceremony was a sobering reminder that too many Americans – especially young people – still lose their lives to the illicit drug trade orchestrated by criminals who have no regard for human life. We need real solutions to the opioid epidemic and rapid action to protect our children and neighbors.