Weekly Wrap-up
The Bottom Line
Inflation spiked 7% in December—the highest jump in forty years! I’m focused on bringing prices back down and making sure you can afford your everyday life. 
Friend,
 
Prices are higher than they've been in 40 years; everyday life is less affordable for Iowans and Americans right now.
 
Over the past year, the cost of bacon has gone up 18.6%, the cost of pork has gone up 15.1%, the cost of fresh and frozen chicken has gone up 11.5%, and the cost of eggs has gone up 11.1%. We aren’t talking about luxury food — these are the items that pretty much every family puts in their cart when they are at the grocery store. 
 
Energy costs are through the roof. The price of gasoline is up 49.6% — it’s costing Americans double to fill up their gas tanks. This disproportionately hurts people in rural areas who drive further to get to work or get to the store. Home heating bills continue to rise as well. As we know in Iowa, winter is here, and families can’t afford to keep their heat on and stay warm. A recent study found that in the last year, about 20% of Americans struggled to pay their energy bill at least once and 28% of Americans skipped buying food or medication so that they could pay their energy bill in the past year.
 
The American people are paying the price—literally—because Speaker Pelosi and President Biden began pouring trillions of dollars we didn't have into our economy last year. But inflation isn’t just a number or a percentage increase. 
 
It’s an elderly person on a fixed income who can’t afford to pay their energy bill and go to the grocery store. It’s a mom who is forced to choose between buying enough food for dinner at the store or filling up the gas tank all the way. It’s a small business that can’t afford to keep the lights and heat on.
 
These are the stories I’m telling in Washington as Democrats continue to push for spending outside of our means. I am laser focused on getting out of this inflation trap that Democrats set for us through their multi-trillion dollar spending binge last year. I will work with anyone who will work with me on common sense economic policies that will help working families afford their everyday lives.
 
Read on for more about my work on behalf of Iowans this week!
Supreme Court Vaccine Mandate Rulings
Over the past few months, I've heard from many Iowans who were worried about the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate and what it would mean for their lives and livelihood if it were to move forward.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden Administration's OSHA vaccine mandate for private businesses with over 100 employees--a victory for personal freedom. This ruling will provide many of Iowa's workers and businesses with certainty that their livelihoods will not be put at risk because of federal government overreach.

However, I am disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Biden Administration's CMS vaccine mandate. This will sideline many of our health care heroes who should be able to make this decision for themselves and could worsen the health care provider shortage.

While I strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the government should not force anyone to choose between getting vaccinated and providing for their families.
Fighting California's Bacon Ban
California’s Prop 12—which would regulate how Iowa farmers produce bacon, eggs, and poultry—is a classic example of farmers and producers being excluded from policy conversations that impact their ability to feed and fuel the world.

Bacon isn't grown at the grocery store—it is made right here in Iowa. Prop 12 would harm Iowa's producers and make it harder and more expensive for people to enjoy their favorite Iowa grown products.

That's why I introduced the EATS Act. My bill would prevent California liberals from telling Iowa farmers how to do their job. Watch more here or below!
Standing Up For Students
Thanks to Governor Kim Reynolds, students in Iowa have been back in the classroom for over a year. But not every student has a governor that advocates for them, and over one million students started off this year with their school closed. This is despite Congress having sent schools money to make and execute a plan to reopen safely.

As a mom, this is unacceptable to me. We can't leave a generation of students behind, and I'm worried about the children who are slipping through the cracks.

That's why I called for the House to consider my Reopen Schools Act, legislation that would require schools to have a plan for in-person learning in order to receive federal COVID relief dollars intended to get students into the classroom safely.

Watch my full floor speech here or below.
Honoring Our Heroes
This week, my team attended a ceremony honoring Deputy Will Halverson, who was shot in the line of duty last year. Deputy Halverson received the key to the City of Coggon—a small token of everyone’s appreciation for his service and sacrifice.

We are continuing to pray for him as he recovers and could not be prouder of him. I am so grateful for Deputy Halverson and all of our brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.
I spoke on the House Floor to recognize Dubuque's Police Chief Mark Dalsing's 32 years of service to our community and wish him well in his retirement. Watch the full speech here.
SURVEY: Should China be Financially Penalized for Allowing COVID-19 to Spread?
After nearly two years of dealing with COVID-19, Communist China still has not faced consequences for unleashing this virus on the world. We can’t prevent another pandemic from reaching the shores of the United States until we get to the bottom of the origins of COVID-19 and uncover Communist China’s role in the spread. I need your input as I work to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for COVID-19 in Washington. 

As your representative, do you want me to work to investigate the origins of COVID-19, and back legislation that would force the Chinese Communist Party to compensate the U.S. financially for their role in the spread of COVID-19?
Answer Here:
Yes
No
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