This week marks the longest government shutdown in American history.
That’s 39 days of families going without answers. Of federal workers missing paychecks. Of critical services suspended. All while Washington plays politics.
Back up: The House passed a commonsense bill almost two months ago to pay our troops, support Iowa farmers, keep food assistance flowing, and maintain essential services.
But a group of Democrats in the Senate has refused to help us pass it — not because they have a better plan, but because they want to maintain their political leverage and push partisan spending demands.
Iowa steps up: On the day this shutdown set a new record, I spent time with the Iowans that are stepping up to help their neighbors. ⬇️
But until Washington decides to put people over politics, they’d do well to take a lesson from how we do things in Iowa:
✅ When USDA payments stalled, we sat down with farmers at Heartland Co-Op to find real solutions.
✅ As Head Start grants froze, we met with teachers who keep showing up for Iowa’s kids.
✅ With SBA loans delayed, we listened to small business owners who are still pushing forward.
✅ As families worry about putting food on the table, we joined pantry volunteers making sure no Iowan goes hungry.
Bottom Line: Iowans aren’t sitting on the sidelines — they’re stepping up, solving problems, and taking care of each other. That’s what leadership looks like, and we’re bringing those stories and values to Washington.