Weekly Wrap Up
Safe & Secure Elections
I was honored to welcome Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) to Benton County to tour the Benton County auditor's election facility and discuss voter integrity as part of the Faith in Elections Project this week. The Faith in Elections Project is an initiative to promote voter confidence in our election systems and outcomes through education, engagement, and reform.
 
States have absolute, Constitutional authority to run their own elections. This project highlights the importance of states' authority in the voting process without interference from the federal government.
 
In Iowa, we have safeguards in place to ensure that all legal votes are counted, and illegal ones are not. It was great to have Benton County Auditor Hayley Rippel show Congressman Davis and me how this process works firsthand.
 
Safe and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy in Iowa and across the country. We will keep working to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat by pushing back on Democrats' plans to federalize our election process.
 
I am also excited to announce that I will be hosting my next telephone town hall this coming Tuesday, October 11th, at 3:00 pm Central Time.
 
Telephone town halls are a great way to continue connecting with Iowans and hear from constituents even while I'm working in Washington. Use the information below to participate!


Dial in: 877-229-8493
Pin: 120529

I hope you'll join the conversation!

Best,
Photo Gallery: Faith in Elections Project with Rep. Rodney Davis
Holding the Administration Accountable for the Southern Border Crisis
I've asked the Administration repeatedly to explain how they are tracking illegal immigrants released into the U.S. While the media has reported that high numbers of illegal immigrants are coming into the country without a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court, the Administration has continued to dodge our questions and calls for accountability. I've asked in person and in writing, and I've followed up with Administration officials to try and get answers for Iowans.
 
This week, over five months after I submitted written questions to the Administration on this issue, I received a response from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). They confirmed that they are releasing individuals into the homeland without an NTA, but they refused to answer just how many migrants are being released without an official NTA. Their justification was that they don't have enough resources and capacity to track those that they are releasing into the country. Yet, President Biden recklessly slashed funding for border patrol in his FY22 budget request to Congress. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense -- no wonder they aren't forthcoming with this information.
 
This Administration's priorities are completely backwards. The American people deserve answers, transparency, and action on the crisis at the Southern Border -- and I'll continue working to ensure that happens.
 
Learn more about my work to press the Administration on this issue to keep Iowans safe and secure: 
Bipartisan Work to Support Crime Victims
It was great to join Teresa Davidson of Chains Interrupted in Cedar Rapids to discuss efforts to support victims of violent crimes in Iowa. The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) helps ensure that those who have suffered from unthinkable crimes have the resources and support they need to recover physically and emotionally. Teresa and I discussed the importance of Congress coming together to ensure that the CVF does not run dry as well as critical resources that are available to Iowans who need support.

ICYMI: Protecting Your Privacy from the IRS
The government shouldn’t be able to see when you pay your rent or go to the grocery store. But, if the Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress have their way, they will have access this personal information.
 
Democrats are pushing a proposal in their multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation package that would give the IRS access to every transaction of $600 or more. President Biden’s Treasury Secretary has even released a plan for how the IRS would implement this massive invasion of privacy and government overreach.
 
My Protecting Financial Privacy Act would block this government intrusion and safeguard your personal information from the IRS. I will continue leading the charge against this ridiculous and radical scheme.

📰 Fox Business: IRS spying countered by privacy bill
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is not only a solemn opportunity to remember those who have lost their battle to this horrible disease, but an important time to raise awareness about the importance of self-examinations and early detection. Learn more here.

I'm a proud cosponsor of Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer's (MO-03) legislation, the Mobile Mammography Promotion Act, to help expand access to life-saving breast exams in rural communities.
Poll of the Week
Paying people to stay home instead of work when the U.S. recently hit a record high 10.9 million job openings makes no sense, but that is what Congressional Democrats are proposing.

My new legislation, the Back to Work Act, would pump the brakes on Democrats’ plan to expand federal pandemic related unemployment benefits into 2022.
Do you believe the federal government should pay people to stay home instead of work?
Yes
No
Community Highlights
My team was able to welcome the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight back home to Cedar Rapids this week! I am so grateful for their service and sacrifice for our country. God bless these heroes!
ICYMI: Social Media & Headline Highlights
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