(SBA) - When I was first elected to Congress, I promised that I would focus my energy on finding solutions to the challenges facing our families, farmers, businesses, and rural communities. Nearly four years later, my mission hasn’t changed. I work every day to ensure that the voice of Iowans is heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress and that I do everything in my power to advance policies that strengthen our economy, support agriculture, lower costs for our families, and keep our nation secure. While I take my job seriously advocating for our values in Washington, it’s similarly important that we bring Congress to Iowa so that lawmakers from other states can see what Iowa has to offer our country and the world – and that’s exactly what I did over the last several weeks.
In August, I welcomed both the Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee – Representative Jason Smith from Missouri – and Chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee – Representative G.T. Thompson from Pennsylvania – to hear directly from Iowans about their suggestions for everything from tax reform to agricultural policy. As the only member of Congress who serves on both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, I’m so grateful that the leaders of two of the most powerful committees on Capitol Hill could make the trip to Iowa. These visits were extremely meaningful for Iowa and represent an important example of giving our families, farmers, and businesses a seat at the table when policies are considered, written, and implemented.
At my request, as part of our work to reauthorize and improve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act before the law’s 2025 expiration, the Ways and Means Committee held a field hearing at the Iowa State Fair to further examine the importance of these tax cuts and the need to keep them in place. We discussed the benefit of the 20% tax cut for small businesses on their qualified business income and the significance of immediate R&D expensing for American manufacturers, biofuels producers, and businesses. We also heard from a mother from Glenwood who has three young kids and has greatly benefitted from the enhanced standard deduction and increased child tax credit authorized through TCJA. Keeping more money in her pocket has allowed her family to support their kids’ activities, pay the bills, and breathe a little easier as inflation has increased costs for household necessities and tightened budgets. Additionally, I made the case for permanently repealing the death tax and reiterated that I have legislation to end this double tax on our families, family farms, and family-owned businesses for good. I can say with confidence that we left the State Fair with a renewed appreciation for the positive impact that TCJA had on our economy and with the continued resolve to extend these critical tax cuts for our families, farmers, and communities.
The very next week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson joined me at the Farm Progress Show in Boone to check out the latest advancements and innovation in agriculture. We met with equipment manufacturers, ethanol producers, and farmers and producers from around Iowa and across the country and had many productive conversations about protecting agriculture and our farming community. During our time at the Farm Progress Show, we also had several discussions about the urgent need to pass the Farm Bill, especially as prices for corn and soybeans continue their downward trend and the Biden-Harris administration fails to negotiate any new trade deals or hold our trading partners accountable to our laws. Among many provisions in the Farm Bill, I have legislation that will open new export markets for our agricultural commodities, keep our foreign adversaries like China away from our farmland, and lower the cost of crop insurance for young and beginning farmers just trying to get their roots planted. We made clear that Senate Democrats need to do their jobs, release their own Farm Bill text, and work with Republicans to deliver relief for our agricultural community. There is no reason to delay or play politics with the livelihoods of our farmers and the vitality of our rural communities.
Having Chairman Smith and Chairman Thompson in Iowa over the last few weeks gave Iowans a seat at the table and a chance to voice their ideas on tax and agricultural policy. These are the types of conversations that I want Iowans to continue to have with congressional leaders and myself. I truly believe that the best policy outcomes depend on strong communication and consistent engagement between lawmakers and the people who have entrusted us with their vote. Serving on both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, I will continue to advocate for pro-growth tax and agricultural policies that support our families, farmers, and rural main streets.
