It’s been 17 days since Washington shut down, and every day Iowans are paying the price.
Let’s be clear: The House did its job. I supported a commonsense plan to keep the government open and pay our troops. It passed with Republican support in the House, including one Democrat, and a majority of Americans.
But a group of Senate Democrats has now blocked it 10 times, demanding $1.5 trillion in partisan spending instead. That’s unacceptable.
While Washington is in gridlock, here’s what’s happening in Iowa:
❌ 15,000 Iowa National Guardsmen aren’t guaranteed their pay
❌ 323,000+ Iowans are at risk of losing food assistance
❌ Thousands of farmers may be cut off from critical harvest support
Every day this shutdown drags on, it chips away at economic stability, public safety, and the services millions of Americans count on. Businesses can’t plan. Veterans face delays. Agencies that protect our borders, process benefits, and keep our skies safe are being forced to furlough workers or operate without compensation.
Where I stand: I’ve never voted to shut down the government — because Iowans don’t walk off the job when things get tough. We show up, solve problems, and get the work done.
Bottom Line: Iowa families, farmers, and servicemembers deserve a government that works as hard as they do. We’ll keep leading with Iowa values until Washington gets back to work.