Iowa farmers don’t need a history lesson to know the Farm Bill is overdue. It hasn’t been updated into law in eight years — and this week, Washington almost made it nine.
After three years of listening sessions with Iowa producers and advancing a Farm Bill out of the Agriculture Committee in March that included 21 Iowa priorities I fought to secure, a last-minute backroom deal in D.C. nearly derailed the entire effort. That wasn’t going to stand.
Here’s what we did: I took Iowa’s case directly to House leadership — working through the evening to secure a vote on the Farm Bill this week, along with a firm commitment for a standalone vote on year-round, nationwide E15 in May.
Our coalition held. The House passed the Farm Bill yesterday, 224-220 — the strongest bipartisan vote in nearly two decades. ⬇️
Why it matters: Iowa’s 87,000 family farms generate $222 billion in economic output, and right now, they’re in the middle of planting season. They needed certainty — not more delays from Washington. When D.C. tried to sideline Iowa, we made sure our voice couldn’t be ignored.
The House-passed bill delivers 21 wins for Iowa farmers I secured, including:
🌱 Expanding opportunity for the next generation — lowering barriers to help young Iowans secure their first farm loan
🏡 Keeping family farms in the family — expanding access to capital for the operations that make up 97% of Iowa agriculture
🌐 Connecting rural communities — investing in high-speed broadband so precision ag tools actually work where farmers need them most
🐾 Protecting man’s best friend — strengthening enforcement against puppy mills and greyhound racing
Bottom Line: The Farm Bill now heads to the Senate, and we have a firm commitment to vote on year-round, nationwide E15. Iowa farmers have waited long enough — I’ll keep fighting to get both across the finish line.