The Bottom Line
If you can't read the whole newsletter, here's what I want you to know:
- My team and I are continuing to monitor storm damage and we are here to answer any questions you have.
- I'm holding my next town hall in Buchanan County on Monday, 12/20/2021, at 9 am.
- I'm fighting to lower energy prices for you and your family!
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Friend,
My team and I continue to monitor the storm damage from the severe weather on Wednesday night. Iowans are doing what we do in disasters – coming together and helping one another as we clean up and recover.
I know there are many folks who are still without power right now and I’m grateful for all the linemen who are working around the clock to restore power across the state. As we continue to assess the situation, my team is here to answer questions, and we are putting out resources, information, and updates.
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Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for many counties in Iowa impacted by the storms. You may be eligible for state grants for home or car repairs, clothing or food replacement, or temporary housing expenses. Learn more and apply here.
- Be sure to report any damage to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This will help local and state officials have a full understanding of storm damage. Report damage here.
We are in touch with Governor Reynolds and her team and stand ready to assist in any way we can. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of my offices and tell us what you need.
Additionally, I want to inform you I will be holding my twelfth in-person town hall this coming Monday, December 20th, in Buchanan County. I look forward to providing an update on my work in Congress and answering your unfiltered questions. I hope to see you there!
Buchanan County Town Hall
Independence Public Library - Community Room
805 1st Street W East
Independence, IA 50644
Monday, December 20th
9:00 AM
Best,
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I received my COVID-19 booster shot over the weekend. I'm grateful for the team at Hy-Vee and for all of our health care workers who have been on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic. The American COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and I believe getting vaccinated is the best defense against this virus.
While I will continue encouraging everyone to get vaccinated and talk to their doctor if they have any questions about the vaccine, I believe it should be your choice, not a government mandate.
You can find a location to receive your COVID-19 booster shot HERE. |
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PSA: Drink Responsibly This Holiday Season |
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As we head into the holiday season, I want to remind everyone to drink responsibly.
We all want Iowa's roadways to be safe for our friends and family. If you are drinking, please get a designated driver and ensure you have a reliable ride home.
Watch my PSA below.
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All of the Above Energy Approach |
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Energy prices are skyrocketing. Every time Iowans turn on the heat, fill up their gas tank, or turn on the oven to cook dinner – it is costing far more than it did just a year ago.
That’s why it has been disappointing to see the Biden Administration turn away from domestic resources, including biofuels, that could bring down energy costs and help America regain our energy independence. I’m working on several different initiatives to address the energy crisis we are facing and calling for an all- of-the-above energy approach.
- I helped introduce the Make Energy Affordable Act. This legislation would require the Biden Administration to produce a report on rising energy prices in the United States and what it will do to address the increases that have led to inflation across the economy. This is about transparency and accountability. If the Administration is going to reject domestic energy resources, Americans should know about the impact these policy decisions are having on their everyday lives.
- Increasing the blending of biofuels in our transportation fuel would immediately bring down gas prices. My bipartisan, bicameral Defend the Blend Act would prevent the EPA from retroactively cutting biofuel blending requirements.
- I helped introduce the Strategically Lowering Gas Prices Act. A direct response to the Administration's recent decision to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), this bill would prohibit the President from tapping into the SPR if there is an active executive order blocking oil and gas leasing on federal lands that would otherwise be available. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve should only be tapped as a last resort; it was wrong for the Biden Administration to use it while neglecting our available domestic resources like biofuels.
I will continue pushing for an all-of-the-above energy approach in Congress that harnesses American energy resources, particularly Iowa’s biofuels, to bring down prices for working families in Iowa.
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Bill to Honor Fallen Iowa Servicemember in Afghanistan Now Law |
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Yesterday, President Biden signed legislation I co-sponsored to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 American heroes who died in Afghanistan in August, including Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page (pictured below) of Red Oak, Iowa.
These heroes will never be forgotten. We will always honor their service, their sacrifice, and their memory.
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Under the Biden Administration’s open border policies, hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are trying to cross our border every month, including many with criminal records. This has made every single American less secure, and police officers across the country are on the frontlines of keeping us safe.
This week, I joined my colleagues in introducing the POLICE Act. This legislation makes violence against a police officer a deportable offense. People who want to come to our county need to respect our laws and law enforcement officers.
Our bill will ensure those who are violent toward U.S. law enforcement officers are not able to stay here and continue to pose a safety threat to our communities.
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I joined the Republican Policy Committee to discuss how who I am as a mom, former news anchor, and former state legislator has impacted my work in Congress. Watch the full video here!
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ICYMI: Headline Highlights |
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