Feenstra Issues Statement on Appointment to Influential House Ways and Means Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement after he was selected by his Republican colleagues to serve on the influential U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee during the 118th Congress:
“I am humbled to be selected to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee for the 118th Congress to continue my work serving and delivering for Iowa. From agriculture and trade matters to healthcare and tax policy, Ways and Means covers a wide array of legislative priorities important to our agricultural community and rural way of life. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I will continue to be a strong voice for Iowa families, farmers, producers, taxpayers, and small business owners who deserve a seat at the table.
Over the last two years, Iowans have suffered the consequences of the Democrats’ reckless spending agenda, which has fueled inflation, raised input costs for our farmers, ballooned our debt, and destroyed our energy independence. Now, Americans expect Republicans to govern. As a proud Iowan, I will defend our families and farmers from crippling tax hikes, protect like-kind exchange and step-up in basis, stop the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing American farmland, negotiate fair trade agreements for our producers, and play a key role in passing a strong Farm Bill that benefits Iowa. Since I was first elected to represent the 4th Congressional District, my commitment to Iowa remains the same: I will always work to deliver real results for our families, farmers, main streets, and rural communities.”
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) praised Feenstra’s appointment saying,“Congressman Feenstra is a leader in fighting for the interests of rural America, and he will continue that leadership on the Ways and Means Committee. He will be an invaluable partner in solving the major challenges that face rural America – opening up new markets for farmers, creating jobs, and expanding access to health care, to name a few. The Ways and Means Committee is ready to advance a bold Republican agenda that supports the millions of working-class families struggling after two years of Democrat one-party rule.”
Background
In part, the House Ways and Means Committee will influence the 2023 Farm Bill when considering any tax proposal or trade matter, particularly Titles III (trade), V (credit), IX (energy), and XI (crop insurance).
The Committee also has jurisdiction over:
- Tax policy, including like-kind exchange, step-up in basis, estate tax, capital gains tax, income tax, excise tax, and 45Q tax credits. In Iowa, 37,000 jobs are supported by ethanol production.
- Trade, including enforcement of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the value-added tax. 415,000 (1 in 5) Iowa jobs are supported by trade, and in 2018, Iowa exported $14.4 billion in goods;
- Tariffs, including the most favored nation tariff, preferential tariffs, and bound tariffs.
- The federal debt, including the debt limit and comprehensive federal spending policies;
- Social Security and Medicare, including the solvency of these vital programs and expansion of healthcare in rural America.
Iowa is the nation’s second largest agriculture-exporting state.
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