My Weekly Column

Economic hardship caused, in large part, by President Biden’s wasteful spending policies and misguided attacks on American energy production recently broke another record. For the first time in over two decades, mortgage rates rose to 7.12% as the Federal Reserve continues its rate hikes to combat the inflation crisis spurred by reckless government spending. Even worse, there is no indication that this upward trajectory will reverse course in the coming months – spelling disaster for American families who want to purchase a home and plant their roots.

On metric after metric, President Biden’s economic agenda – which he has coined “Bidenomics” – has failed our families, farmers, small businesses, and rural communities. His tax-and-spend policies have pushed the American Dream out of reach for too many families by eroding their paychecks and crushing their budgets under the insurmountable weight of record inflation, higher taxes, and crippling debt. The economic indicators speak for themselves, too.

President Biden has overseen the worst border crisis in recent memory. Since the beginning of his administration, more than 5.5 million illegal immigrants have crossed our border, and in July alone, illegal border crossings increased by 30%. This has not happened by accident. The Biden Administration’s policies have intentionally exacerbated this crisis by failing to enforce our laws, hold drug traffickers accountable for their crimes, and protect our families from the fentanyl crisis.

In 2022, nearly 110,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, including 75,000 people who lost their lives at the hands of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

The integrity of our elections and the power of our vote are vital to the health of our democracy. The United States remains a beacon of hope and promise because the people – not politicians – determine the outcome of elections with their voice and their vote.

The defense of our nation is vital to the preservation of our freedoms and the protection of our families. There is no more important responsibility of the Congress than to secure our nation and provide for the safety of Americans everywhere. This is particularly critical as China, Russia, and North Korea flex their military capabilities, violate international norms, and threaten the sovereignty of free nations. We cannot let our guard down as our enemies double down on their dangerous and illegal actions.

In the 21st century, access to high-speed, affordable internet is critical to the success of our rural communities and our long-term economic vitality. Reliable broadband connection ensures that our families can work from home, our farmers can effortlessly monitor commodity prices online, and our main street businesses can utilize the technology they need to serve their customers and make a living. To promote economic development and grow our rural communities, dependable internet connection is a must.

From droughts and derechos to record inflation and rising interest rates, crop insurance is a vital safety net for Iowa farmers and producers. When mother nature strikes, crop and livestock protections can be the difference between turning a profit or facing financial ruin.