Weekly Wrap Up
Friend,

Hearing from Iowans is the most important part of my job. This week, we held two in-person town halls and traveled across the district to meet with small businesses, workers, and community partners. I collected tons of stories and great feedback that I'll take with me to Washington as I work to improve the daily lives of all Iowans.

I met with a group of local businesses and community partners in Delhi at Roast and Toast Coffee Shop in Delhi. Delhi is an amazing small town in Delaware County with so much to offer. Our conversation centered around keeping Delhi a great place to live, work, and visit by increasing access to affordable housing and child care options.

We also visited AP Castings in Buchanan County. They are a home-grown operation and I enjoyed touring their shop floor and meeting with workers. They have 18 employees and even 3 father-son duos who work there together now! Unfortunately, they aren't confident this will be possible in the future due to the lack of skilled workers in the area. Scaling up our workforce, particularly in rural areas, through the right combination of community partnerships and smart federal investments is a top priority for me.

In Benton County, I toured Frontier Co-op, a production facility that sources high quality botanicals, spices, and herbs and ships them throughout the country. I toured their facility and was able to see how they get products out the door--from quality testing, to packaging and shipping. We also visited their on-site child care facility. Access to affordable child care is one of the top challenges facing working families right now and I was glad to see that Frontier Co-op has this option available for their employees. I’ll continue to hear from workers, employers, and child care providers about innovative solutions to the child care accessibility challenge that we are facing.

Keep reading for a recap of my two in-person town halls and to see photos of my travel throughout our communities this week!

Best,
Photo Gallery: Meeting with Iowans
Economic Development Roundtable (Delaware County)
Off the Hoof (Delaware County)
AP Castings (Buchanan County)
Frontier Co-Op (Benton County)
Town Hall Recap
It was great to be out in Dubuque County and Black Hawk County this week to hold my fifteenth and sixteenth in-person town halls. I provided an update on my work for Iowans in Washington and took unfiltered questions from those in attendance. 

In Dubuque County, we discussed ways the U.S. can combat Communist China and hold them accountable for COVID-19, economic policies that will help working families get ahead and reduce reliance on government, and my work to bring manufacturing back home. In Black Hawk County, we talked about election integrity, the rising cost of gas, ensuring people in rural areas have access to health care services, and the deteriorating crisis at our southern border. 

A big thank you to everyone who came out to our town hall meetings! I am going to bring the feedback and stories I received back to Washington and continue fighting every single day to solve the challenges Iowans are talking about around their kitchen tables.
Preventing Drug Abuse
Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the age of 18 and 45. Just a pinch of fentanyl is enough to kill thousands. But the Administration’s lax policies are allowing fentanyl, and other lethal drugs, to move from China and into our country through the southern border in droves. In the last calendar year, enough fentanyl was seized by Customs and Border Protection to kill every American nearly seven times over.

We can't sit back and allow this poison to flow into our communities. We have to meaningfully crack down on synthetic drug abuse and stop the mass pain and suffering it is causing American families. I helped lead a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to stop the flow of illicit drugs coming into our country and permanently classify fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug.
Are you concerned about drug use in your community?
Yes
No
Advocating for Taxpayers
I participated in a House Budget Committee hearing this week on the debt limit. Republicans on the Committee pushed back against Democrats’ efforts to abolish the debt limit and give themselves a blank check to spend your money. Washington, DC could learn a thing or two from how we budget in Iowa. I’ll continue to be a strong voice against overspending in Washington and watch over your tax dollars like a hawk.
ICYMI: Holding the Administration Accountable
I joined Doug Wagner last week to talk about my efforts to secure the border and pump the brakes on overspending in Washington that has created the highest inflation rate in 40 years. Iowans can’t afford President Biden and Speaker Pelosi’s spending habits.
Community Highlights
It was great to catch up with Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell this week! We had a great conversation about how we can work together to keep Cedar Rapids thriving, create a vibrant downtown and riverfront, and support families in our community.
Deputy Will Halverson was shot in the line of duty last year. My team presented Deputy Halverson with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to recognize his service and sacrifice. We will never be able to thank him enough--he is a true hero among us!
Headline Highlights & Social Media
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