Greetings friends and neighbors! We’re working our way into the final stages of the legislative session now at the Capitol. One of the tasks we worked on this week in our committees in the Senate was to consider the confirmation of the governor’s appointments to state boards and commissions ...
As I write this column, Senate File 2340 has been passed by both houses of the Iowa legislature, and is making its way to the governor’s desk. If she signs – and she almost certainly will – Iowa will have criminalized unauthorized immigration, putting enforcement in the hands of local ...
During my first term in the U.S. Senate, Congress established Women’s History Week to recognize the role women play in our nation’s economy, culture and politics. Acknowledging their work, sacrifice, resilience and patriotism inspires future generations to pursue their dreams and ...
Greetings neighbors and friends! Week 11 of the 2024 legislative session is now in the books. We debated dozens of bills in the Senate, including a lot of good bipartisan bills, and unfortunately a few controversial ones like the proposal to reform the Area Education Agencies. With only a ...
A new farm bill is top of mind for many farmers, ranchers, and rural community members. However, amidst the ongoing discussions and negotiations, another important conversation is beginning to unfold. In the weeks ahead, members of Congress will outline federal spending levels for 2025, ...
National Agriculture Week is a good opportunity for all of us to appreciate our natural resources and consider how we can all do our part to protect them. As a 4th generation cattle and crop farmer in Tama County, I would like to share how farmers are protecting soil and water in our area ...
By the time you read this sentence, spring has sprung. What a beautiful time of year. Winter is in the rear-view mirror. While this last month was unseasonably warm and was eerily uncomfortable, it is exciting for spring to be here. It being 60 degrees with no snow on the ground is meant for ...
Greetings friends and neighbors! As I write this, today marks the end of the tenth week of the legislative session and is also the second funnel date for the session. The second funnel is the date by which policy bills must make it out of their originating chamber and out of committee in the ...
We have finished the tenth week of the session, which was the second funnel for when Senate bills had to be through a House Committee. At last count, the House had passed roughly 175 bills over to the Senate so far, and the Senate has sent the House about 60 bills. The House continues to ...