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Blog Posts

đź’Š Stop Outsourcing Our Medicine

When an Iowa family goes to fill a prescription, they shouldn’t have to wonder whether it’ll be on the shelf or if they can afford it. But right now, China is gaining control over how many of those medicines are made, putting both the cost and...

💸 Investing in Iowa’s Future

I learned very early on that the best ideas in Congress don’t come from Washington, they come from back home.  Across Iowa, local leaders, nonprofits, and community organizations know exactly what their towns need to grow and succeed. My job is to...

đźš« Washington Failed to Balance the Budget

The first piece of legislation I introduced in Congress was a balanced budget amendment, because I believe the federal government should have to live by the same rules Iowa families and businesses already do. Iowans know you shouldn’t spend money...

🏡 Housing that Works for Rural Iowa

In a small Iowa town, one home can change everything.  It can mean the difference between keeping a young teacher in the community or losing her to a city 90 minutes away. Between a farm kid staying on the family land or leaving for good. Between a...

đź’µ No Tax on Drill Pay

Last May, I stood with the families of Iowa's National Guardsmen as they said goodbye to their loved ones deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. This weekend, I had the honor of welcoming more than 100 of them home...

🏥 Care Close to Home

In rural Iowa, the local hospital is more than just a building — it’s a lifeline. Whether it’s a late-night emergency, a routine checkup, or welcoming a new baby into the world, families deserve care they can count on close to home.  Zoom out:...

đź’° Tax Relief is HERE

For working families across Iowa, tax return season means a check in the mail to help pay for the basics — gas, groceries, or a little extra set aside for the future. That's always mattered. But this year, it matters even more. Zoom in: Because of...

🚫 Stopping China’s Illegal Vapes

Illegal Chinese vapes — candy-flavored, FDA-unapproved, and deliberately designed to hook kids on nicotine — are flooding communities across America. As a dad of six, I share the concern of parents across Iowa who've sounded the alarm about these...

🛠️ Industrial Strength Is National Security

As a 20-year combat aviator, I flew missions around the world supporting America's troops. One lesson stood out every time we took off: success on the battlefield starts with strength here at home. During World War II, America didn't just outfight...

🇺🇸 Honoring Six Brave Americans

On Saturday, I stood with the Coady and O'Brien families at Dover Air Force Base as Sgt. Declan Coady, Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien — and four of their fellow servicemembers — were brought home. There are no words to fully capture that moment. Standing...

🎣 Keeping Fishing Alive

Growing up, I spent plenty of mornings on the water — Boy Scout trips to Camp Mitigwa and summers at Lake Okoboji with my family. Like a lot of young Iowans, I was a kid who loved to fish. But for many Americans, fishing isn’t just a pastime — it's...

🌽 Farm Bill PASSED

I grew up helping out on my family's century farm — raising sheep and working row crops. Those early mornings taught me something simple: farmers don't ask for much. They plan years ahead, borrow against crops that aren't even planted yet, and...

🇺🇸 Honoring Iowa’s Fallen

This week, Iowa is grieving.  Kelly and I are heartbroken alongside every Iowan learning that Sergeant Declan Coady of West Des Moines and Major Jeffrey O'Brien of Waukee were killed in Kuwait while serving with the 103rd Sustainment Command — the...

🌽 Farm Bill Week

This week, we begin shaping the new Farm Bill — and for Iowa, that's a big deal.  Why it matters: Nearly 97% of Iowa farms are family-owned operations. Farmers plan years ahead, and they often borrow against crops that haven’t even been planted...

💰 It’s Time for a Stock Ban

It's time to ban insider trading for Members of Congress. Elected officials have access to information the public doesn’t — and we serve on committees that oversee the very industries we regulate. That creates a clear conflict of interest and...

🚌 Good News for Central Iowa

For thousands of families across central Iowa, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, or DART, is how they get to a shift at MercyOne, community college classes, or church on a Sunday morning.  The problem: DART still operates out of a...

🇺🇸 For Edgar and Nate

Last night, a son of Iowa was honored in Washington.  Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar of Des Moines served his community, his state, and his nation with pride. He was a loyal friend, a fierce warrior, and a beloved son who gave his life in...

🏥 Protecting Iowa’s Health Care

In rural Iowa, the nearest hospital isn’t just a building — it’s a lifeline. And in many towns, it’s the only one for miles. When that hospital struggles to hire nurses, absorb rising costs, and maintain key services, families feel it immediately —...

🎨 Building on Iowa’s Legacy

In small towns across Iowa, history isn’t confined to museums — it lives on Main Street. And when local communities see an opportunity to build on that legacy, they are the first to step up. That’s exactly what’s happening in Eldon this week. ...