My Weekly Column

There’s no denying that the United States has an opioid crisis. Unregulated, deadly drugs have found their way into our urban centers, our suburbs, and even our rural main streets. Every year, these fatal substances indiscriminately kill hundreds of thousands of Americans regardless of age, race, or creed. There is no questioning what needs to be done. We must cut the flow of these drugs, often manufactured by foreign adversaries like China, and secure our borders.

Earlier this month, I joined more than 120 of my colleagues in introducing H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. In 1791, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by Congress. One of our great Founding Fathers — James Madison — believed that the security and longevity of the American Republic depended on free, well-armed citizens. The 2^nd Amendment reads, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

On Wednesday January 22^nd, I voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the Laken Riley Act, which included my legislation with Senator Joni Ernst – Sarah’s Law – as an amendment. This important bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature and will truly save countless innocent lives that would have otherwise been lost due to blatant loopholes in federal law. 

On the evening of Wednesday January 15^th, I hosted my first of several telephone town halls for 2025. Nearly 6,000 Iowans joined us to ask questions about topics important to them and to learn more about my work in Congress for our families, farmers, businesses, and rural communities. Being transparent and accessible to my constituents is very important to me, and I will continue to advocate for commonsense policies that support our families and advance our shared Iowa values.

At the end of this year, significant portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was signed into law in December of 2017, officially expires. That means that – absent congressional action – taxes for Iowa families, farmers, and businesses will increase. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I will be working closely with President Trump, Chairman Jason Smith, and my colleagues to reauthorize the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, build upon the major successes of this law, and prevent massive tax hikes on Iowans and Americans everywhere.

On November 5^th, 2024, the American people delivered a mandate for our government by electing President Trump and Republican majorities to Congress. Like me, our families and neighbors want secure borders, safe communities, a strong economy, and an affordable cost of living. It is now our responsibility to honor the will of the voters and get our country back on track.

2024 was a busy and successful year representing our families, farmers, businesses, and rural communities in Congress. I made over 320 stops on my biannual 36 County Tour, launched the second iteration of my Feenstra Agriculture Tour, held several town halls with Iowans, and advocated for our shared values on Capitol Hill. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to be entrusted by the good people of the 4^th District to serve our communities every day and be a strong voice for our families in our nation’s capital. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

On Wednesday December 18^th, President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delivered yet another blow to the American auto industry and affordability for our families. The EPA announced that it granted California permission to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars in the state. In doing so, the EPA put radical Green New Deal policy agenda items over the economic interests of American consumers.