Weekly Wrap Up
Friend,

I had the opportunity to join a bipartisan Congressional delegation in Israel this past week. We met with high-level elected and diplomatic officials, visited holy sites, learned more about economic trends in the area, and received regional security briefings. I was honored to help strengthen our special relationship with Israel on behalf of Iowans and all Americans.

The U.S. relationship with Israel isn’t about politics—it is rooted in our shared values and security interests. Israel is America’s most important ally in the Middle East. Israel sits at the center of global security, and we must continue strong bipartisan support for this critical ally. This partnership is essential to maintain stability in the Middle East and to ensure safety and security here at home.

Throughout the trip, we saw firsthand why it is so important for Israel to be able to defend itself. Israelis live in constant fear of rocket fire and attack. Israel faces threats from its neighbors and others in the region, namely from Iranian terrorist proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. My colleagues and I viewed Israel’s Iron Dome, a purely defense system that has saved countless lives by detecting and deflecting rockets and missiles before they land. There has long been bipartisan support for Israel’s right to defend itself from attack, and that support must continue to be steadfast.

Israel is home to many holy sites that are significant to people of all backgrounds and religions. I prayed at the Western Wall, saw the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, read Jesus’s Sermon on the Mound at the Mount of Beatitudes, and worshipped at the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. My faith guides me as a mom and as a leader. As a Christian, these were all incredibly meaningful experiences that I will cherish.

Iowa and Israel have a special relationship as well, and a long history of collaboration on agricultural research projects, including protecting corn from biosecurity concerns. Plus, Israel is one of our strongest purchasers of military equipment, which benefits manufacturers in Iowa like Collins Aerospace. Collins Aerospace has long been selling military equipment to Israel as part of our strategic partnership. It was valuable to gain a deeper understanding of our trade relationship and discuss ways to maintain and strengthen these ties.

During this time of international chaos, it is critically important that our allies know we stand with them and that our enemies understand they will face severe consequences if they act against the interests of the free world. There has never been a more important moment to show our enduring support for the nation of Israel. I look forward to sharing more information about my experience with Iowans!

Keep reading for pictures from the trip and to learn more about my work for Iowans this week.

Best,
Photo Gallery
Meeting with Israeli Officials
Meeting with top Israeli leaders Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid, Head of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, and Speaker of the Knesset Mickey Levy.
Visiting Holy Sites
Praying for peace at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Reading Jesus’s sermon on the Mound at the Mount of Beatitudes
Praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Jesus’s empty tomb and where he was crucified
Visiting the historical and archeological remnants of the City of David
Understanding Regional and Global Terrorist Threats
We visited Israel's Iron Dome, a purely defensive missile defense system that has deflected rocket attacks and saved countless lives.
In the Golan Heights, we learned more about terrorist threats Israel faces from terrorist groups in Syria.
Visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
It was an extremely emotional and harrowing experience to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum. We must never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust, and the millions of Jews and other minorities who were persecuted and killed at the hands of the Nazis.
Stand with Ukraine
I strongly condemn Putin’s unprovoked military attack on Ukraine. The Biden Administration should have introduced crippling sanctions on Putin and his cronies months ago at the first indication of Russian aggression.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine will not only threaten global and national security but will cause major energy disruptions and make it more expensive for Americans to fill up their gas tank and heat their home in the coming weeks.

The Biden Administration must levy crippling sanctions on Russian energy and fully unleash domestic resources now. I've called on the Administration to turn to Iowa's ethanol and biofuels industry to bolster our domestic energy supply and keep energy prices down--Iowa biofuels producers stand ready to meet increased demand and provide stability during this time of international crisis.

Iowans and all Americans will continue praying for the freedom-loving people of Ukraine.
As I travel across Northeast Iowa on my 20-county tours, I consistently hear about the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, particularly insulin. Iowans deserve accessible health care they can depend upon and afford — folks shouldn’t have to choose between buying their groceries and medications they need. And, if we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of Operation Warp Speed, it is that unlocking American innovation saves lives.

Congress should work in a bipartisan way to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and help deliver more treatment options to those who are sick. That is why I support the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. This legislation — made up of bipartisan provisions — promotes low-cost options for Americans, stops drug companies from taking advantage of the system, and will get new cures out of the lab and into patients’ hands.

This legislation includes multiple provisions that target the exorbitant cost of insulin, medication that at least nine million diabetics across the United States need daily to survive. The cost of a vial of insulin has sharply increased over the past decade—I’ve heard from many diabetic Iowans who are forced to ration doses or have foregone other basic needs to fill their prescription. To address this, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act provides the first ever out of pocket cap on insulin for seniors in the Medicare Part D program and allows insurers to cover additional costs for those in high-deductible health plans. Enacting these bipartisan provisions is even more important now that the Biden Administration paused a Trump-era policy that required community health centers—that primarily serve rural communities—to provide patients insulin at a discounted rate.
ICYMI: Discussing Rising Prices on Steele Report
The rising cost of everything continues to be the top issue I’m hearing about from Iowans across our district.

I joined the Steele Report to discuss the stories Iowans have shared with me about how rising prices have impacted their daily lives and family budgets.
Community Highlights
My team attended the workforce solutions breakfast in Dubuque with Greater Dubuque Development! They learned more about “Work that Works,” a new pilot program in partnership with five local employers who are offering flexible, part time job opportunities for those in school. We’ll continue to engage with community partners to help bridge the skills gap and engage workers.
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