url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-1-million-federal-grant-peoples-community-health-clinic,Finkenauer Announces $1 Million Federal Grant for Peoples Community Health Clinic,2019-12-30,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced Peoples Community Health Clinic will receive a $1,039,051 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We must continue to move toward the goal of providing Iowans with access to high-quality, affordable health care, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how Peoples Community Health Clinic is part of the solution, and I am happy to see them receive this meaningful grant that will help Iowans. Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc.is a nonprofit health care clinic that provides care to patients regardless of financial situation and insurance status. Peoples Community Health Clinic has locations in Waterloo and Clarksville. Finkenauervisited the Waterloo locationon August 7th. Finkenauer also invited Peoples Community Health Clinic toparticipate in her Waterloo health fairon November 18th. Finkenauer also helped secure an extension for federal funding for community health centers, and sent a letter to House and Senate leadership in August urging a long-term bipartisan and bicameral funding solution.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-adds-400-million-iowa-flood-funding-tracker,Rep. Axne Adds $400 Million to Iowa Flood Funding Tracker,2019-12-23,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Des Moines, IA Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced $408million has been added to her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker following new information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on federal dollars spent in Iowa on flood recovery and other assistance efforts. In a letter to Rep. Axne, the USDA detailed $408,784,120 in funding obligated for projects and grants in Iowa. The full letter from the USDA is available here. I'm pleased to add more than $400 million to my Iowa Flood Funding Tracker thanks to new details from the USDA on how they're helping Iowa recover from devastating floods, said Rep. Cindy Axne.Iowans deserve transparency from their government while communities are still reporting they are not getting the assistance they need. I will continue to push the remaining agencies to explain how they are helping Iowa rebuild and recover. The USDA also provided information on a number of pending outlays and grant applications, with more than 480awards still pending final approval. The information from USDA is a response to Rep. Axne's requestlast monthfor eight federal agencies to provide specific updates on the disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa. Earlier this month, Rep. Axne launched her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker for constituents to track updates on disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa after disastrous flooding in Southwest Iowa and across the region.The Tracker now includes information for USDA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Last week, Rep. Axne voted for a bipartisan appropriations package which made available an additional $1.5 billion in unspent 2017 disaster funds for 2019 agriculture disaster recovery programs. In November, the Housepassedbipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources. In May, the Housepassed H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 which Rep.Axne successfully amendedto increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-signs-axne-supported-bills-included-year-end-spending,President Trump Signs Axne-Supported Bills Included in Year-End Spending Legislation,2019-12-21,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed into law numerous measures supported by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) that will eliminate the threat of burdensome healthcare taxes, bring investment to Iowa's green economy and rural communities, help with disaster recovery and support local farmers, producers and small businesses. I'm happy to see measures that are critical for helping Iowa families and businesses in 2020 become law, said Rep. Axne. I'm thankful that the President has signed these bills that I supported this year, and I'm proud of the work we have done in the House to get them included in the final law. Biodiesel & Biofuel Tax Credits Provisions to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2022 and the second-generation biofuel producer credit through 2020 were included in the appropriations package that was signed into law yesterday. Since coming to Congress, I have made it a priority to address these expired tax credits, Rep. Axne said.Farmers are taking it on the chin with the ongoing trade war and the EPA undermining the RFS at every turn. We have seen plants stall or shut down, causing folks to lose their jobs and farmers to lose their buyers. I am glad to see the provision signed into law to bring our farmers and producers some market certainty, create jobs, and set us on a path towards a cleaner environmental future. These critical tax credits expired at the end of 2017, leaving Iowa farmers and producers with significant uncertainty. Rep. Axne has consistently advocated for these provisions from the beginning of the year. Repeal of the Health Insurance Tax, Cadillac' Tax, and Medical Device Tax The new law includes a permanent repeal of a mandated health insurance tax (HIT), Cadillac' tax, and medical device tax. These repeals will protect middle class Iowans from higher health care costs and end the cycle of delays that have spread uncertainty in the health care markets. These taxes were looming over Iowans, waiting to see how much their health care will cost in 2020, said Rep. Axne. By permanently ending the threat of these burdensome taxes, I am not only making sure Iowa families aren't paying even more for their care, but also creating stability in our health care. Rep. Axne has continually advocated repealing these taxes. Earlier this month, Rep. Axne wrote to House leadership to ensure that as many as 142 million Americans were spared from the implementation of the HIT. In July, Rep. Axne voted to permanently repeal the Cadillac' tax, the 40 percent excise tax on the most expensive employer-provided health insurance plans. Renewing Tax Breaks for Iowa Craft Brewers, Distillers The new law extends expiring tax breaks for Iowa's craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Authorized in 2017, the tax breaks cut per-barrel excise taxes with the largest reduction going to the first 60,000 barrels of a brewery's production. Our small brewers and distillers are the pride of Iowa and helping give us a nationwide reputation as a hotspot for a good local brew, said Rep. Axne. I'm happy that their production can benefit from an extension of this vital tax credit. Iowa is home to more than 100 craft breweries, supporting thousands of Iowa jobs, and is projected to produce more than 146,000 barrels this year. Earlier this year, Rep. Axne cosponsored the House version of this reauthorization. Giving Tax Relief to Aid Flood Recovery The Disaster Tax Relief Act was included in the legislation signed into law, providing tax relief for Iowans affected by the 2019 floods. I'm glad that we're lending another helping hand to those Iowans affected by recent flooding, said Rep. Axne. By providing them the means to keep businesses intact, deductions for their damaged property, and other tax help, our families and communities don't have to worry that a natural disaster will break their budget. The bill would help impacted Iowans keep their paychecks coming in by providing retention credits to employers with inoperable businesses that continue to pay their employees. In addition, it would expand deductions for destroyed property, encourage donations to projects in disaster areas, and remove the penalty for early withdrawals from retirement accounts. The original legislation was introduced in April in the House with Rep. Axne as a cosponsor. Helping Electric Cooperatives Invest in Development, Disaster Recovery The new law also includes legislation that would reopen government grants to electric cooperatives (co-ops) to allow for invests in improvements in broadband service or disaster relief. Electric cooperatives provide the power for more than 600,000 Iowans, said Rep. Axne. Allowing them to partner again with government to build improvements in our communities will help strengthen our energy infrastructure. Changes in tax law in 2017 blocked co-ops from accepting any kind of local, state, or federal grant funding without risking their tax-exempt status. In addition, the new law contains other Axne-supported divisions, including: H.R. 510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act;H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act; H.R. 3851, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act; andH.R. 4634, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397338,Loebsack Statement on the EPAs Final RFS Rule,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack, co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule for 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. The final rule does nothing to address the misuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) and reneges on the President's promise made to Iowa farmers in September to account for SREs using actual waived gallons, not DOE recommendations.The final RFS rule set forth by the EPA is another slap in the face to Iowa's farmers and ethanol producers. It does nothing to stop the vast misuse of the small refinery exemptions, which only serves to erode the RFS and destroy demand for clean, renewable fuel, like ethanol. From Trump's Twitter Trade War to his continuing to side with big oil over our farmers, this is just another in a long list of attacks on our rural communities by this administration. I will continue to stand up for our farmers and producers and fight to restore the integrity of the RFS.Background Representative Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of the RFS, ethanol and the biofuels industry. He has been leading the way in the House to increase oversight and transparency of the Small Refinery Exemption that the Administration has used to undermine the RFS, hurting our farmers and rural communities, while propping up Big Oil. As co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, Loebsack helped lead the opposition of the excessive use of the SRE, including this August when the President and EPA granted 31 new waivers. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Loebsack secured an oversight hearing this fall examining the Trump Administration's abuse of SREs and considering legislation he helped introduce, H.R. 3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, which would help bring greater transparency to the use of SREs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-votes-advance-usmca-trade-agreement-tells-senate-pass-week,"Rep. Axne Votes to Advance USMCA Trade Agreement, Tells Senate to Pass This Week",2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted with 384 of her Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House to advance the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement. I'm proud of my vote today to approve the USMCA and get it one step closer to being ratified, said Rep. Axne. Trade is fundamental to the state of Iowa, and this finalized agreement will modernize our partnership with our two closest neighbors and provide market certainty for Iowa farmers and manufacturers by ending the threat of back-and-forth retaliatory tariffs. Rep. Axne spoke during debate on the House floor prior to final passage of the deal. Video of her remarks can be found here. The agreement reaffirms trade partnerships with two of America's most important markets and ensures access for exports from Iowa, the second largest agricultural exporting state in the country. Last year, Iowa exported $4.2 billion in goods to Canada, 30 percent of the state's total exports, and $2.3 billion to Mexico. The deal now heads to the United States Senate, which has already stated that it intends to hold on passing the deal until sometime after the beginning of next year. Earlier this week, Rep. Axne led a letter with six of her freshman colleagues in the House calling on the Senate to stay in town to finalize the deal. It is completely unacceptable that after months of negotiations and an agreement that both the President and the House agreed to, the Senate will still leave town without giving our farmers and families the Christmas gift they deserve, said Rep. Axne. I hope my friends in the Senate will reconsider their plans to start their holiday vacation without passing this deal and getting our constituents the certainty of having this deal done by the new year. Rep. Axne has been a leader in calling for action on USMCA. She repeatedly urged her colleagues on the House floor to work to finalize the agreement. Earlier this month, shesent a letterto Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer and called for action on the USMCA before the end of the year. The USMCA builds on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which went into effect in 1994. It includes provisions to enforce labor protections across all signatories to protect American jobs from outsourcing, and excludes language in an earlier draft that could have raised prescription drug costs by protecting pharmaceutical companies. The enhanced labor protections in the USMCA will benefit Iowa workers and keep our middle class strong. Without them, we'd see Iowa workers undermined and our American-made products undercut, Rep. Axne said. I am also glad that the biologics title was removed so Iowa families will not face higher costs for certain pharmaceuticals, and to see key improvements in environmental protections. The agreement passed today is a product of months of bipartisan collaboration between the House Working Group, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and trade representatives from the Mexican and Canadian governments. The three countries signed USMCA in November of 2018 and on May 30, 2019 the administration submitted the text of the agreement to Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-rep-cindy-axne-fifth-circuit-court-ruling,Statement from Rep. Cindy Axne on the Fifth Circuit Court Ruling,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) issued the following statement on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Texas vs. United States: Yesterday's ruling by the Fifth Circuit is disastrous for Iowa. By continuing down a path that could lead to completely undoing the Affordable Care Act, this decision not only risks raising premiums in the short term, but it could also eliminate protections for the 1.2 million Iowans living with pre-existing conditions, undo Medicaid expansion, and send health care costs skyrocketing across our country. This campaign to undermine and eliminate health care coverage for Iowans has gone on too long. Since I've come to Congress, I've voted to lower prescription drug costs, protect those living with pre-existing conditions from losing their coverage, and supported legislation to improve care for seniors and children. We must focus on lowering costs and expanding access to health care, not eliminating coverage.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-federal-grants-economic-development-districts-iowas-first,Finkenauer Announces Federal Grants for Economic Development Districts in Iowa's First Congressional District,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced the Region 6 Planning Commission and East Central Intergovernmental Association will each receive $17,500 federal grants from the Economic Development Administration. The goal of the grants is to encourage job creation by establishing an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports capital investment by bringing public and private sectors together. I continue to push for more investment in our communities to ensure small businesses can begin, grow, and thrive, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I am happy to see this federal investment in Northeast Iowa, and I will keep doing anything I can to ensure that hardworking families see a direct impact from these types of investments. Ensuring our communities have the tools they need to thrive is one of my top priorities. Kelly Dentmyer, Executive Director of the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA) said, ECIA has been a designated EDA District since 1978. We utilize the EDA planning grant to assist our member governments with vital economic development and community development projects in our region. ECIA matches the EDA grant dollar for dollar with local funding and this enables our staff to work on projects related to business retention and expansion; workforce recruitment and retention; workforce housing development; as well as infrastructure related projects. This funding is critical to our economic development activities throughout the region. Julie Winter, Planning Director of Region 6 Resource Partners said, We are thrilled to receive the $17,500 award for the EDA Planning Partnership Grant. Funds from this award will be used to help support planning efforts in the region like affordable housing, sewer improvements, water improvements, tornado recovery, and trail development. These investments in our region are crucial to healthy, thriving communities. These funds allow us to help communities secure grants and other outside funding sources that maintain good quality of life, especially for rural areas. The Region 6 Planning Commission is comprised of Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama counties. The East Central Intergovernmental Association is comprised of Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson counties. Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District, which includes many of the counties in the Region 6 Planning Commission and the East Central Intergovernmental Association. In Congress, Finkenauer is a member of the House Committee on Small Business and is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE).In that role, she has invited Iowans to testify about small business and economic issues that are impacting them and their communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-passage-us-mexico-canada-trade-agreement,Finkenauer Statement on Passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on the House passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement: ""I am happy to see and be a part of bipartisan passage of the UMSCA. This is a win for Iowa's farmers who will have certainty now that the president will not fulfill his reckless threat to pull out of NAFTA and cost us even more with our trading partners. With the new provisions included, this ensures we will stop bleeding American jobs to other countries and will work as well to start to bring these jobs back home.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-trump-administration-undercutting-renewable-fuel-standard,Finkenauer Statement on Trump Administration Undercutting the Renewable Fuel Standard,2019-12-19,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule regarding Renewable Fuel Standard small refinery waivers: ""Iowa's biofuels producers and farmers have suffered enough this year from the president's trade war, to taking the side of big oil and refinery waivers. Today, we have a final rule from the administration that fails to take into account legitimate bipartisan concerns and feedback from our nation's actual ethanol and biodiesel producers. Once again we see the president has no intention of making good on the promises he has made to Iowans in the past to stop attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard. Iowans shouldn't be losing jobs because of the Trump administration's EPA policies and lack of leadership from the president.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-leads-freshman-democrats-calling-senate-pass-usmca-year,Axne Leads Freshman Democrats in Calling on Senate to Pass USMCA This Year,2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) called on the Senate to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) before the end of the year. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rep. Axne joined six of her freshman House colleagues in demanding that the Leader bring up the deal as soon as the House passes it this week. We are deeply concerned by your statements that the Senate will not take up the USMCA this year, the lawmakers wrote. The Senate cannot leave for recess until you pass the USMCA. The letter highlighted the Senate's previous words of support for the agreement amid statements that now suggest the deal will not be brought up until February. Over the last year, many of our colleagues in the Senate have expressed support for USMCA and their desire to move this deal as quickly as possible, the lawmakers wrote. We have completed the heavy lifting of negotiations and compromise and will send you a bipartisan trade agreement that the President himself supports. USMCA cannot end up in the Senate's Legislative Graveyard. The letter was signed by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), Rep. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Rep. Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Rep. Kenda Horn (OK-05), and Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07). The House is expected to pass the USMCA trade agreement on Thursday.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/hamburg-needs-our-help-rep-axne-introduces-legislation-cut-red-tape-provide,"Hamburg Needs Our Help: Rep. Axne Introduces Legislation to Cut Red Tape, Provide Greater Flexibility in Critical Levee Construction",2019-12-18,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Iowa's Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to give communities and the Army Corps of Engineers greater flexibility in constructing permanent levees from temporary ones. The bipartisan legislation was jointly led by Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments (LEVEE) Act would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to begin preconstruction on levee improvements without waiting for congressional approval if a project is determined to be critical to flood prevention and cost less than $25 million. The legislation would also provide full federal funding for projects in flood-prone areas. No town should have to worry that federal red tape stands between them and a devastating flood, said Rep. Axne. What we saw in Hamburg earlier this year proves that we must do something to allow the Corps to act faster and provide full federal funding for flood-prone areas. Our local and on-the-ground experts need to be listened to. I'm proud that this bipartisan, bicameral legislation does just that and addresses this critical issue for Southwest Iowa. In 2011, residents of Hamburg, Iowa worked the Army Corps of Engineers to construct makeshift emergency additions to a levee to combat rising flood waters. The levee saved the town from floodwaters, but was determined to be not adequate enough to be made permanent without changes. After Hamburg could not come up with the funds to make the changes, the additions to the levee were removed. Last spring, Nebraska experienced the worst flooding since 2011,"" said Rep. Bacon. ""Many homes, businesses, livestock and dreams were lost. Under this bill, the Army Corps would be allowed to evaluate repeated and potential areas of flooding and construct levees to prevent such disasters from occurring again. We must take the proper actions to protect communities from future floods and this legislation does just that. Since disastrous flooding earlier this year, Rep. Axne has been fighting to ensure federal funding reaches ongoing recovery efforts in her district. Last week, Rep. Axne recently announced the creation of her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker, allowing all Iowans to track updates on where disaster relief funding is being spent in Iowa. The Tracker also identifies federal agencies that have not answered Rep. Axne's call for transparency in accounting for where disaster relief funds are being spent. Securing federal funding for disaster recovery in Iowa is only the first step, said Rep. Axne. I'm committed to calling out federal agencies who won't tell us where the money is being spent, helping constituents navigate the rebuilding process, and pushing for legislation in Washington to fix inefficiencies and reform our disaster recovery systems to work better for Iowans. In November, the Housepassedbipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources. In May, the Housepassed H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 which Rep.Axne successfully amendedto increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-votes-fund-our-military-increase-grants-local-police-invest-cancer,"Axne Votes to Fund our Military, Increase Grants for Local Police, Invest in Cancer Research, and Protect our Elections",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House in voting to pass a four-bill package of appropriations bills and provide funding certainty to support our national security for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. The bill passed by the House today, H.R. 1158, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Commerce, and other key executive branch agencies tasked with protecting our nation and its citizens. I'm proud to have the backs of those Americans who work every single day to keep our country safe by voting today to keep their agencies open and increase investments in programs that are essential to the national defense, said Rep. Axne. This legislation will protect our elections, support our local law enforcement, and invest in our national security. A number of provisions in the final bill reflect priorities for Iowa and issues which Rep. Axne wrote to members of the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for: $65 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program, which the Iowa National AirGuard participates in $847 million for the Small Business Administration, including $261 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs and $135 million for Small Business Development Centers Allows Customs and Border Protection to hire an additional 240 Agriculture Specialists to help protect against the African Swine Fever $425 million for State Election Security Grants to improve election systems and protect our elections from interference $492.5 million for Department of Defense Cancer Research, including breast, kidney, ovarian, and rare cancer research $22.3 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including $17.8 billion for disaster response and recovery efforts and $2.9 billion for state and local grants $3.28 billion in grants to local and state law enforcement, including the Byrne JAG program and funding to address blacklogs in sexual assault cases The bill also provides the funding to support a 3.1% pay raise for the men and women of the U.S. armed forces. A product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, this legislation also ensures that the government remains open for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020, providing budget certainty to federal employees and their families ahead of the holidays.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-votes-invest-health-and-education-infrastructure-and-rural-communities,"Axne Votes to Invest in Health and Education, Infrastructure, and Rural Communities",2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted to pass a package of appropriations bills and tax extenders, investing in key programs that help Iowans and provides funding certainty for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. These investments in Iowa will be key to increasing access to health care and a quality education, investing in our rural communities, growing small business investments, helping our seniors, ensuring environmental protections and honoring our responsibilities to our veterans, said Rep. Axne. In addition, I'm happy to see much-needed tax provisions to extend critical biofuel tax credits and permanentlyrepeal health care taxes that would hurt Iowans. The bill includes a revival of the biodiesel tax credit until 2022 and an extension of the second generation biofuel tax credits until 2021, provisions that Rep. Axne has fought for since coming to Congress and which will create good-paying green jobs, support Iowa farmers and producers. The bill passed by the House today, H.R. 1865, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other key executive branch agencies and programs. A number of provisions in the final bill reflect priorities for Iowa and issues which Rep. Axne wrote to members of the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for: $3.4 billion for Community Development Block Grants to provide grants to cities, counties, and rural areas to help meet the needs of low-income families $1.5 billion in unspent 2017 funds for disaster relief, which can now go to those impacted by the 2019 flooding $2.8 billion for Alzheimer's disease research, $27 million for Diabetes Prevention Program, and $195 million for the Cancer Moonshot research initiative at the National Institutes of Health $10.6 billion for Head Start and $13.9 billion for Special Education $640 million investment in rural broadband to support education, healthcare, and economic development $196 million for Family Caregiver Services, which supports those who are providing care to their families and loved ones $405 million for the Senior Community Services Employment for Older Americans Program $2.8 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Grants for skills training programs Increases the maximum Pell Grant to $6,345.00, to help keep pace with inflation $16 million for the Zero Suicide program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including for children and youth; and $19 million for the Suicide Lifeline $80.2 billion for medical care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including $222 million in suicide prevention outreach activities $400 million for Airport Improvement Grants and $2.2 billion for Highway Infrastructure Programs The bill also includes a provision championed by Rep. Axne to block a pay raise for her and her fellow members of Congress, and a permanent repeal of the health insurance, Cadillac,' and medical device taxes which Rep. Axne called on House leadership to include in the year-end deal. In addition, divisions of this legislation include bills that Rep. Axne has supported, including: H.R. 1175, the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act; H.R. 510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act; H.R. 2147, the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act; H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act; H.R. 2284, the Disaster Tax Relief Bill Act; H.R. 3851, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act; and H.R. 4634, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019. A product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, this legislation also ensures that the government remains open for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020, providing budget certainty to federal employees and their families ahead of the holidays.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cindy-axne-statement-week-s-article-impeachment-vote,Rep. Cindy Axne Statement on this Weeks Article of Impeachment Vote,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"I came to Congress to work for middle class Iowans getting people better health care and better-paying jobs while making the Federal government more accountable. When I took the oath of office, I swore to protect the Constitution and our democracy. After carefully reviewing the evidence presented from the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, it's clear the President abused his power by using $400 million in taxpayer money for his own personal, political gain and obstructed Congress by ordering his administration to refuse to testify or provide subpoenaed documents. That's why today, I am announcing my support for the articles of impeachment. While the impeachment process continues, I will continue my work to lower health care and drug costs, increase access to job training programs, and help our neighbors affected by natural disasters.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-secures-child-care-and-rural-broadband-investments-iowa-s-first,Finkenauer Secures Child Care and Rural Broadband Investments for Iowas First Congressional District in Appropriations Package,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)) voted to provide new investments in high-quality child care, rural broadband, registered skilled apprenticeship programs, as well as a historic five-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit. These Iowa priorities were secured as part of a legislative package to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2020. The package included both appropriations and tax provisions and passed with bipartisan support. ""From day one, I have worked across the aisle to get this done for our district and state. From passing legislation through committee, to holding hearings with biodiesel producers testifying, it has been a bipartisan effort to get here,Finkenauer said.I came to Congress to make sure Iowa's voices and working families were heard. From constituents visiting the office to roundtables and town halls in the district, this package covers the priorities we heard and its effects and funding will be felt in homes across Iowa. Provisions included will help doctors serving patients in rural communities, invest in our crumbling infrastructure, expand access to high-quality child care, fund rural broadband projects, and provide certainty for our biofuel and soybean producers who work hard every day for a strong Iowa economy. Without a doubt, the package we passed today is a big win for Iowa. The House passed two separate appropriations packages today, both with significant bipartisan support. The packages fund federal departments and agencies, along with the nation's military. In addition, they include a package of tax provisions that are being extended and expired last year, like biodiesel and second-generation biofuels. Finkenauer Priorities Included in the Appropriations Package Early childhood programs get an increase of $1.1 billion, helping ensure that northeast Iowans can access child care and early education no matter where they live Provides $175 million for registered skilled apprenticeship programs, a $15 million increase over last fiscal year Repeals the Cadillac Tax which would have made it harder for employers to offer high-quality health care plans. Invests $640 million in the expansion of broadband in rural areas. Includes increased funding for rural bridge repairs and replacements. Keeps tax relief in place for our small brewers and distillers. Extends important health care programs that help improve access to healthcare in Northeast Iowa, including the Work Geographic Index Floor which ensures fair reimbursements for physicians in rural areas and has been a legislative priority for Rep. Finkenauer as well as the Conrad 30 Program to address health care workforce shortages. Includes the increased federal fundingthat Rep. Finkenauer fought forto help entrepreneurs grow and start their businesses, including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, and the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) program. Provides $41.7 billion for NIH, an increase of $2.6 billion above the previous year, to develop life-saving treatments and make sure that the United States continues to lead the way when it comes to medical innovation. Increases investments in K-12 education. Restores the Short Line (45G) railroad tax credit. Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit The biodiesel tax credit has been expired since 2018 and is important to farmers and biofuels producers around the country. Finkenauer helped lead a bipartisan effort in the House to bring attention to the credit through new legislation, pass it through the House Ways and Means Committee and include it in this final package. Monday, Finkenauer alsooffered an amendment to H.R. 5377 This is part of her efforts to make sure the biodiesel tax credit is extended before the end of the year. Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-articles-impeachment,Finkenauer Statement on Articles of Impeachment,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the House's upcoming vote on Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump: On January 3rd of this year, I had the distinct honor and privilege to raise my right hand on behalf of my neighbors across Iowa's First Congressional District and swear I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I would bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I think of that oath, and my constituents who I'm grateful to serve, every day. Tomorrow, after reviewing months of testimony from national security experts, our intelligence community, and the words and actions of the President of the United States, I will continue to uphold that oath. I will be supporting both articles of impeachment and honor my duty to defend our constitution and democracy from abuse of power at the highest level. This decision is not, and was never about politics, and this shouldn't be about political parties or elections. It's about facts, dignity in public service, and honoring those who fought and continue to fight to protect our sacred democracy.I'll continue to do my job with the same values and respect I grew up with here in Iowa. It will soon be up to our US Senators if they choose to do the same.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-inclusion-biodiesel-tax-credit-extension-key-legislation,Finkenauer Statement on Inclusion of Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension in Key Legislation,2019-12-17,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the inclusion of a five-year biodiesel tax credit extension in the year-end tax extenders legislative package: ""From day one, I have worked across the aisle to get this done for our district and state. From passing legislation through committee, to holding hearings with biodiesel producers testifying, it has been a bipartisan effort to get here. While today is a good day for an industry that has been dealt so many unnecessary blows, we should have passed this earlier in the year so our biodiesel producers had the certainty they need to make investments and move the industry forward. No one should have to make plans for closures and layoffs because of Congress failing to do its job. I will keep fighting for our farmers, rural small business owners, and state to ensure we do not see this type of damage again with a common sense tax credit that helps Iowa's biofuels industry grow and helps employ hard-working Iowa families."" Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit Monday, Finkenauer alsooffered an amendment to H.R. 5377 This is part of her efforts to make sure the biodiesel tax credit is extended before the end of the year. Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation. Reaction to Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said, We thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for impressing upon House leadership the importance of the biodiesel tax credit to supporting rural jobs and robust ag markets. She worked diligently drum up support among House members and to ensure the tax credit was a priority for the House leaders. Her efforts played an important role in securing today's great news for farmers and biofuels producers. Kurt Kovarik, vice-president of federal affairs at National Biodiesel Board said, ""On behalf of NBB members, I'd like to thank Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Abby Finkenauer as well as many other senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle for their strong and consistent championship of our industry. David Fialkov, VP of government affairs for the National Association of Truckstop Operators said, Congresswoman Finkenauer's leadership was absolutely essential to ensuring the biodiesel tax credit would be extended for multiple years. Throughout 2019 it has been clear that the entire biofuels community has a real champion in Representative Finkenauer. Without her and her first-rate staff the biodiesel tax credit would have been in serious jeopardy. The entire retail fuels industry is extraordinarily grateful to Congresswoman Finkenauer. ""The biodiesel tax credit helps Road Ranger bring to market cleaner burning fuels that support the local Iowa economy while also bringing down prices for our customers,"" said R.J. Rymas, Vice President of Fuels for Road Ranger Truck Stops and Travel Centers. ""It is a win-win for us. We are very grateful for Congresswoman Finkenauer's efforts that led the House to pass legislation that includes this important policy."" We are grateful to Congresswoman Finkenauer for her efforts to include the biodiesel tax credit in the year-end spending package, said Douglas Beech, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Relations at Casey's General Stores. Fuel retailers like Casey's have made investments in biofuel infrastructure for many years because it good for the environment, our farmers and rural communities. We appreciate the recognition by Congresswoman Finkenauer that the biodiesel tax credit has helped us become more energy independent, environmentally friendly, and also to offer competitive fuel prices to our customers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397337,"Reps. Loebsack, Latta, Long and McEachin Praise House Passage of Legislation to Improve Broadband Data Maps",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bob Latta (OH-05) authors of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (HR 4229), along with its cosponsors, Reps. Billy Long (MO-07) and Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statements praising the House passage of the bill. The Broadband DATA Act is bipartisan legislation that would improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by changing the way broadband data is collected. The bill now heads to the Senate where similar legislation has been introduced Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN), Roger Wicker (MS), Gary Peters (MI) and John Thune (SD).In 2019, it is simply unacceptable that many families, small businesses, farmers, educators and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the necessary access to high-speed internet. When this bill becomes law, we will finally begin to fix the bad broadband maps that for too long have often misstated speed and availability, said Congressman Dave Loebsack. I have often said there are two things needed to connect rural America to highspeed broadband and that is dollars and data. But without reliable data, the dollars do not matter. Garbage in, is garbage out. You have to have good data to know where the problems exist, otherwise it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I am pleased that the Broadband DATA Act, which will help address those issues, has passed the House. I look forward to working with the Senate to get the Broadband DATA Act to the President's desk.Our country's technological capabilities are revolutionizing the way Americans communicate and work with each other, but due to inaccuracies in our maps that identify where people can and cannot access the internet, some people are being left behind. The passage of this bill means more Americans, whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural communities, will be able to participate in our 21st century economy, because we will be able to better pinpoint where internet access is lacking so that funding can be appropriately dispersed to areas that need it most. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly consider this bill so people across the country can engage in the digital age, said Congressman Bob Latta. It is unacceptable that many Virginians and people across our country, particularly in rural and underserved communities, lack access to high-speed internet, said Congressman A. Donald McEachin. The Broadband DATA Act will help ensure we have a more complete understanding of broadband availability and thus bring much-needed, high-speed internet to all of our constituents. I urge my Senate colleagues to consider this bill immediately so that all Americans have access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet services. It's crucial that federal broadband programs are using accurate data and up-to-date maps. The federal government spends billions of dollars each year on rural broadband deployment, yet millions of Americans lack basic access to broadband services. For rural communities, such as those in Missouri, knowing where broadband is and is not available at certain speeds will go a long way in closing the digital divide. I'm grateful for the strong, bipartisan support as we work towards a more connected future, and I commend my colleagues, Reps. Donald McEachin, Dave Loebsack and Bob Latta for their hard work on the Broadband DATA Act, said Congressman Billy Long. Specifically, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act would: require the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers; require strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy; and create a challenge process for consumers, state, local, and Tribal governments, and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data, and requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on challengers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/citing-end-year-tax-extender-uncertainty-rep-axne-introduces-amendment-revive,"Citing End-of-Year Tax Extender Uncertainty, Rep. Axne Introduces Amendment to Revive Biodiesel, Biofuel Tax Credits",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Rep. Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) submitted two amendments to H.R. 5377 that would revive the expired biodiesel tax credit and extend tax credits for Iowa's second generation biofuels. The amendments would support Iowa farmers, incentivize investment in green jobs, and finally revive essential tax credits after their expiration at the end of 2017. As the Congress considers bills this week to extend and adjust tax provisions, we are determined to fight for the investments that will support our farmers, rural communities, and good-paying green jobs, said Rep. Axne. At a time when Iowa farmers are facing hardship, Congress cannot ignore the importance of including these critical provisions. The biodiesel tax credit is important for Iowa farmers, producers, rural small businesses, and hard-working families, said Rep. Finkenauer. From day one, I've been working with colleagues on both sides for the aisle, and in both the House and Senate to get bring this credit back. I have stressed to House leadership how important this credit is to the First Congressional District, and to the entire state of Iowa. While I wish this is something that would've been resolved during the last Congress, I will keep working to make sure I get this done for Iowans. Today's amendments are another push to get that done. As a member of the Biofuel Caucus, Rep. Axne has been fighting for the biodiesel tax credit since coming to Congress. In her first full month representing Iowa, Rep. Axne joined the entire Iowa Democratic delegation to call for a multi-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit. In April, Rep. Axne introduced the Biofuel Tax Credit Bill to make the second generation biofuel producer tax credit permanent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/three-axne-lead-bills-pass-house-help-modernize-grants-broadband,"Three Axne-lead bills pass the House to help modernize grants, broadband",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, the House of Representatives passed three bipartisan bills backed by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03): the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act, the Mapping After Public Scrutiny (MAPS) Act, and the Broadband Data Act. With the passage of these bills, the House has now passed 66 bills that have been written or co-sponsored by Rep. Axne. In order to remove red-tape and modernize the process, the GREAT Act would establish uniform reporting requirements and create a single public website to publish grant data. By standardizing the process, the bill will make it easier and cheaper for Iowans to receive grants and increase transparency and accountability to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in federal grant spending. I've heard too many stories from Iowans struggling to navigate federal grant applications, said Rep. Axne. Often times, grants are just awarded to big organizations who can afford a professional grants writer, and I've talked to folks running a small business who have a great idea, but don't know how or where to apply for grants. H.R. 150, the GREAT Act, was one of Axne's first bills to pass the House in January 2019. The Senate held the bill until October, when it finally passed unanimously. Now, the House has approved the Senate's changes and will send the bill onto the White House for signature. The GREAT Act was one of the first bills I supported because Iowans need equal access to grant funding, just like any other state, said Rep. Axne. That's also why I've launched my Iowa Flood Funding Tracker, to show Iowans where disaster relief funds are being spent in Iowa. Iowans need equal access to grant funding, just like any other state. H.R. 4227, the MAPS Act, and H.R. 4229, the Broadband DATA Act, both work to improve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mapping process for rural broadband and wireless service. The Broadband DATA Act, introduced by Rep. Loebsack (IA-02), would require the FCC to develop a new mapping process, with full, verifiable information about available speeds at a detailed level. That, combined with a process for residents and local officials to challenge the maps, will provide federal support to communities without service that have been improperly cut off. The MAPS Act authorizes the FCC to penalize corporations if they knowingly submit inaccurate broadband coverage maps. I've seen broadband and wireless maps that claim all of Iowa is covered and that's just not true. As I toured each of my 16 counties every month this year, I know there are huge pockets where there's zero coverage said Rep. Axne. In order to fix our broadband access problems, we need to understand the problem. Accurate coverage maps are the right place to start and I'm proud to see these bill get overwhelming support. Rep.Axne has been a champion on both rural broadband and on government reform in her first year in office. In November, the House passed an Axne-sponsored bill to reform federal disaster recovery programs in order to improve government services while saving taxpayer dollars. The bill ensures funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner and protects taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources. In May, Rep. Axne was appointed to sit on the newly launched House Rural Broadband Task Force to provide coordination and leadership to end the rural-digital divide.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-3-million-grant-iowa-head-start-programs,Finkenauer Announces $3 Million Grant for Iowa Head Start Programs,2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) will receive a $3,079,374 federal grant for its Head Start programs. The grant will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Children in our communities deserve every opportunity to succeed, and that starts with proper early childhood education, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, This grant will ensure HACAP can keep serving kids in our community to give them the chance to thrive from the very start. I am thrilled to see such a worthy organization receive an investment like this. I will keep working to make sure the kids in our district are supported so they are not held back from following their dreams. Background on HACAP & Head Start HACAP is a community action agency serving 6 counties in Eastern Iowa. Its Head Start and Early Head Startare comprehensive early childhood development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. As child-focused programs, they have the overall goal of increasing theschool readiness of young children in low-income families. In addition to center-based school readiness programs, Early Head Start provides a home program for pregnant women and children age birth-3. There are no fees for children & families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start. All supplies and materials are provided for enrolled children. Head Start/Early Head Start program services are funded through grants. Awarded grants are from the federal, state and local levels.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-finkenauer-introduces-amendment-revive-biodiesel-biofuel-tax-credits,"Rep. Finkenauer Introduces Amendment to Revive Biodiesel, Biofuel Tax Credits",2019-12-16,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) submitted two amendments to H.R. 5377 that would revive the expired biodiesel tax credit and extend tax credits for Iowa's second generation biofuels. These two amendments would support Iowa farmers, incentivize investment in good-paying jobs, and finally revive essential tax credits after their expiration at the end of 2017. The biodiesel tax credit is important for Iowa farmers, producers, rural small businesses, and hard-working families. From day one, I've been working with colleagues on both sides for the aisle, and in both the House and Senate to get bring this credit back, Congresswoman Finkenauer said. I have stressed to House leadership how important this credit is to the First Congressional District, and to the entire state of Iowa. While I wish this is something that would've been resolved during the last Congress, I will keep working to make sure I get this done for Iowans. Today's amendments are another push to get that done. As the Congress considers bills this week to extend and adjust tax provisions, we are determined to fight for the investments that will support our farmers, rural communities, and good-paying green jobs, said Rep. Axne. At a time when Iowa farmers are facing hardship, Congress cannot ignore the importance of including these critical provisions. Finkenauer's Work on Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017, but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. This year, Finkenauer was joined by Senators Grassley and Ernst, as well as industry leaders, at a press conference supporting the legislation. Finkenauer testified before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year, sharing the stories of Iowa producers and businesses that would benefit from the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/show-iowans-money-ahead-trip-flood-affected-counties-axne-unveils-iowa-flood,"Show Iowans the Money: Ahead of Trip to Flood-Affected Counties, Axne Unveils Iowa Flood Funding Tracker to Hold Government Accountable",2019-12-13,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Des Moines, IA Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced the creation of a new Iowa Flood Funding Tracker for constituents to track updates on disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa after disastrous flooding earlier this year. The tracker will boost transparency and hold our federal agencies accountable by allowing Iowans to see directly where the funding that was approved by Congress is being spent. The documents provided in the tracker are the first batch of updates from three federal agencies that Rep. Axne demanded last month provide specific updates on the disaster relief funding being spent in Iowa. I am pleased to launch the Iowa Flood Funding Tracker today to ensure transparency and allow Iowans to see where federal agencies are spending relief dollars in the flood-affected areas of Iowa, said Rep. Cindy Axne. While Congress has ensured this funding is available, I still hear from constituents that flood areas are not getting the assistance they need. I will continue to hold federal agencies accountable demanding they show Iowans the money' and update our tracker to ensure the information is public for all to see. The letters released on the tracker today include updates provided from the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The tracker is available on the Congresswoman's official website at: https://axne.house.gov/disaster Tomorrow, Rep. Cindy Axne will host two Connect with your Congresswoman (CWYC) town halls in Fremont and Pottawattamie counties, and will provide constituents at those town halls with updates on flooding recovery dollars being spent in their area. I look forward to hearing from my constituents directly tomorrow about their experience navigating this recovery process and providing them with this update, said Rep. Cindy Axne. As this recovery continues, I will continue working to get answers and make this process easier. In November, the House passed bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Axne to modernize federal disaster recovery programs, ensure funds appropriated by Congress are delivered to disaster victims in a timely manner, and protect taxpayer dollars by increasing safeguards against misuse of program resources. In May, the House passed H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 which Rep. Axne successfully amended to increase funding for programs vital to Iowa. President Trump signed that bill into effect on June 7th, effectively making funds available for disaster recovery programs available that day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397336,Loebsack Praises House Passage of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will finally give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies and makes the lower prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance. In Iowa's Second Congressional District, there are 115,293 people enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan and 566,387 people enrolled in private health insurance all of whom stand to benefit from the passage of this legislation. Additionally, the cost savings from H.R. 3 will be reinvested back into both Medicare, to expand the benefits provided to include comprehensive dental, vision and hearing coverage for senior citizens, and for research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to accelerate the search for the next scientific breakthrough. It is past time that Medicare is able to negotiate with drug companies, similar to what the Veterans Administration has been doing for years. These negotiated prices will then be passed along to Iowans who have private healthcare insurance. I am also very pleased that the cost savings contained in this bill will be reinvested back into Medicare to give Iowa's seniors needed dental, vision and hearing coverage, and expand research at the NIH. No family should have to sit at their kitchen table and have to decide between putting food on the table and paying for their prescriptions. This historic legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure that conversation does not have to happen. Along with many other bills, it is time for the Senate to step up, debate and pass this legislation to help families across the country. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would lower drugs costs and expand benefits: - Give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies to bring down prices and create powerful new tools to force drug companies to the table to agree to real price reductions. - Make the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance too, not just those on Medicare. - Stop drug companies ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs by limiting the maximum price for any negotiated drug. - Create a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for people on Medicare. - Save taxpayers approximately $500 billion over the next ten years and reinvest that savings into: -Expanding Medicare benefits to cover things like dental, vision and hearing, -Combatting the addiction crisis, and -Researching new cures and treatments. - Independent experts found the Lower Drug Costs Now Act would: -Save American households $120 billion. -Save private businesses more than $40 billion. -Save taxpayers approximately $500 billion and reinvests that savings to expand benefits. H.R. 3 is supported by a wide variety of groups and associations, including: AARP, Alliance for Retired Americans, AFL-CIO, SEIU, UAW, Catholic Health Association of the United States, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), Medicare Rights Center, Voices for Progress (V4P) and Patients for Affordable Drugs Now.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-introduces-legislation-fund-clean-energy-construction,Axne Introduces Legislation to Fund Clean Energy Construction,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Rep. Cindy Axne joined Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), chair of the Environment and Climate Change subcommittee, in introducing the National Climate Bank Act, legislation that creates a federal bank to invest in clean energy and emissions reduction projects. The National Climate Bank will use $35 billion of public capital to support up to $1 trillion of private investment in renewable energy generation and projects to improve energy efficiency across the economy. ""While serving at the Iowa statehouse, I worked under both Republican and Democratic governors to make Iowa a leader in wind energy,"" said Rep. Cindy Axne. ""This not only gave Iowans cleaner, cheaper electricity, it also created thousands of jobs. Creating a National Climate Bank will spur investment in clean energy projects nationwide. Leveraging federal investment to partner with the private sector is an essential step in dealing with climate change, and will help make America a leader in green technology and infrastructure."" The National Climate Bank would combat climate change by mobilizing private capital to increase access to clean energy and upgrade our existing energy infrastructure tomake the United States a world leader. The National Climate Bank will provide capital to encourage investment in a wide range of sectors, including renewables, storage, transportation, transmission, resiliency, efficiency, reforestation, agriculture, and industrial de-carbonization. The Bank will also explore new and innovative approaches to reduce emissions, in addition to funding state and local green banks. These banks have had success in supporting both large projects like utility-scale wind and solar farms and small scale upgrades like household solar and wind generation. A Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Similar legislation, the Green Bank Act of 2019, was introduces by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Representative Jim Himes (D-CT). ""In recent years, state and city level climate banks have proven financially self-sustaining and successful in spurring new private investment in renewable energy and energy efficient buildings. These technologies create quality jobs, reduce carbon, air and water pollution and create savings for families and businesses Now, state and local climate banks are leading the way in investing in mobility as well as in adaptation and resilience to speed our recovery when disaster strikes. The National Climate Bank Act will ensure that the entire country can make these critical investments, which include driving the necessary investment in communities affected by loss of fossil-fuel related businesses,""said Doug Sims, Director, Green Finance Center, the Natural Resources Defense Council. To properly tackle climate change an aggressive agenda is required that addresses all fronts of the crisis. To get to a fully clean economy, we need comprehensive efforts to spur innovation in the economy, technology, and society. Establishing a National Climate Bank will serve as an important implementation tool to achieve this goal by publicly financing and stimulating private investments in clean, renewable energy projects, clean transportation, and support communities most effected by climate change,said Rep. Debbie Dingell. A summary of the National Climate Bank Act is availablehere, and the full bill text is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-votes-lower-prescription-drugs-price-iowa-seniors-and-families-adds,"Rep. Axne Votes to Lower Prescription Drugs Price for Iowa Seniors and Families, Adds Amendment to Cut Red Tape",2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington D.C. Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted for passage of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a measure that will lower prescription drug prices and improve the quality of health care for Iowa seniors and families. Prior to passage of the final bill, the House voted unanimously to add Rep. Axne's amendment to tackle excessive health care administrative costs to the final package. Every week, I hear from Iowa seniors and families in my district about their struggle to pay for their prescription drugs, said Rep. Cindy Axne. I've heard stories of Iowans skipping meals, rationing their drugs, and depleting their retirement saving just to afford the medications they need to live. I'm proud to vote today to cap Medicare drug costs, allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars to ensure that no Iowan ever has to decide again between buying medication and making ends meet. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs every year, and extend those savings to Americans across the country. It will also create a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for seniors, while ensuring that drug companies can't charge Americans more than 20% higher prices that other countries, like Great Britain or Australia. It also increases investments into more innovative, affordable cures and treatments. It is endorsed by AARP, Protect Our Care Iowa, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. I am fed up with pharmaceutical lobbyists writing laws that benefit their bottom lines, said Rep. Axne. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would lower prescription drug prices across the board, help our seniors keep their retirement savings. I know how important improving our health care system it it's literally life or death. I'm proud to support this bill, to improve it with my amendment, and to continue fighting for Iowans in Congress. Prior to final passage of the bill, the House voted by voice vote to adopt Rep. Axne's amendment to create a grant program to help reduce duplicative and excessive health care administrative costs, as well as reduce the redundant work by 50% at the federal level. I'm particularly proud that the House voted unanimously today to include my amendment to cut medical red tape and reduce excessive medical paperwork to improve the quality of health care and lower costs for Iowa families and doctors, continued Rep. Axne. As a mother of two, nothing frustrates me more than when I take time off work to take my sick children in to the doctor and I spend more time filling out paperwork than they do seeing my kids. You can find the video of Rep. Axne's introduction of the amendment HERE. Axne's amendment creates a $250 million grant program and directs the federal government to reduce their excess administrative costs by 50% over a 10 year period, meaning the grant will more than pay for itself while saving taxpayer money. Axne's amendment could save the federal government millions of dollars annually, while also giving doctors and nurses more time with their patients. A 2016 survey found that doctors are spending twice as much time on administrative work as they do seeing patients. That same study found when a doctor is with a patient in an exam room, they'll still spend more than a third of that time at their computer. Ask any health care professional about the excessive paperwork they have to do, and they'll tell you that it's burning them out. I've heard it from doctors, nurses, all kinds of medical professionals that they need something to change,Rep. Axne said.My amendment saves everyone money, it's going to help doctors and nurses focus on their patients. This morning, the Health Innovation Alliance a collection of patient groups and medical provider organizations endorsed Rep. Axne's amendment.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-successfully-amends-and-passes-historic-bill-lower-prescription-drug,Finkenauer Successfully Amends and Passes Historic Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices and Expand Medicare Coverage for Iowans,2019-12-12,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) voted to pass H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and successfully offered a bipartisan amendment that would require TV advertisements for prescription drugs to include how much a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment would cost. Requiring drug companies to disclose pricing information in advertising is something that Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, President Trump, and members of both parties support. This is something I hear about in our district every time I go home and has been a top priority for me here in Congress. I've hosted prescription drug roundtables around our district to hear what Iowans are struggling with when it comes to prescription drug prices, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, We've got a major problem in this country and we need to fix it. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act gets at the heart of the problem - it puts people first, and it even expands Medicare for Iowans and ensures more transparency in drug costs through my amendment. I am proud of this bill and the work that has been done on it, and today we took a huge step forward in lowering the costs of prescription drugs and expanding Medicare. The legislation is expected to save nearly a half-trillion dollars over the next decade, and that savings would be invested to expand Medicare and provide dental, vision, and hearing services for seniors and conduct medical research at the National Institutes of Health. H.R. 3 will lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies and lower costs for people who have Medicare as well as those with private insurance. Finkenauer's Floor Speech on Iowans' Rx Drug Stories and Amendment on Drug Cost Transparency While introducing her amendment on the House floor, Finkenauer shared stories from Iowans who are struggling to afford prescription drugs. After sharing those stories, Finkenauer said, These are the reasons that we are here today, that we fight for legislation like this, that we get these things done and that we put our constituents and people over the politics that we continue to see here from the folks who would like to divide us instead of unite us. Full video can be found here. Rep. Finkenauer's amendment to H.R. 3 will require drug companies to disclose pricing information about prescription drugs and biological products when they advertise these products directly to consumers on TV. H.R. 3 Impact on Iowa H.R. 3 will lower the cost of prescription drugs for all Iowans, while also saving taxpayer money. The savings will be reinvested in drug research, and in closing gaps in dental, vision, and hearing services for Iowa seniors who rely on Medicare. In Iowa's First Congressional District, H.R. 3 will re-invest savings to address the following Medicare coverage gaps: 91% lack coverage for dental extractions 89% lack coverage for dental exams 86% lack coverage for hearing exams 86% lack coverage hearing aids 79% lack coverage for eye exams 87% lack coverage for eyeglasses This year, Finkenauer has heard about the challenges Iowans face with prescription drug prices, including at prescription drug roundtables in Dubuque and Waterloo. Also, Iowans shared their stories with the Congresswoman through her Rx Initiative Survey.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397335,Iowa Reps Call on Administration to Uphold Integrity of RFS,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) sent a letter to Russell Vought, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump, about the EPA's October supplemental proposed rule regarding the reallocation of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, December 6, 2019 the EPA sent their proposed rule to OMB for final review. The Members of Congress expressed serious concerns that the rule as drafted fails to keep the RFS whole, and called on Vought to ensure that the final rule upholds the Administration's guarantee of blending 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol on an annual basis, as is mandated by law. CLICK HERE to read the letter.As we travel through our districts in Iowa, we hear first-hand from farmers, renewable fuel producers, and rural communities about the harm caused by the explosion of small refinery exemption (SRE) applications that EPA has approved in recent years. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis, the Members wrote. The RFS promises our rural economies that 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol and increasing volumes of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel will be blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply. Without a binding commitment that EPA will account for exemptions granted by EPA, this rule fails to keep the RFS whole.The Members concluded, The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that the final rule upholds the integrity of the RFS, avoids further plant closures, and provides farmers and producers certainty going forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-reps-call-administration-uphold-integrity-rfs,Iowa Reps Call on Administration to Uphold Integrity of RFS,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03), Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), and Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) sent a letter to Russell Vought, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump, about the EPA's October supplemental proposed rule regarding the reallocation of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, December 6, 2019 the EPA sent their proposed rule to OMB for final review. The Members of Congress expressed serious concerns that the rule as drafted fails to keep the RFS whole, and called on Vought to ensure that the final rule upholds the Administration's guarantee of blending 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol on an annual basis, as is mandated by law. CLICK HERE to read the letter. As we travel through our districts in Iowa, we hear first-hand from farmers, renewable fuel producers, and rural communities about the harm caused by the explosion of small refinery exemption (SRE) applications that EPA has approved in recent years. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis, the Members wrote. The RFS promises our rural economies that 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol and increasing volumes of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel will be blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply. Without a binding commitment that EPA will account for exemptions granted by EPA, this rule fails to keep the RFS whole. The Members concluded, The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that the final rule upholds the integrity of the RFS, avoids further plant closures, and provides farmers and producers certainty going forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/opioid-detection-prevention-bills-pass-house,"Opioid Detection, Prevention Bills Pass the House",2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills to improve detection and safe handling of opioids that will help ensure police officers, customs officials, and other Homeland Security safety personal are better protected from exposure while working to prevent the influx of opioids entering the United States. The House passed H.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, in a 393 - 1 vote and H.R. 4739, the Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act, in a 393-0 vote. Police officers and customs officials work to keep our communities safe, but often they don't know what type of drugs they might come in contact with on the job. That's why these bills work to ensure they have adequate equipment to test and protect themselves against exposure, said Rep. Axne. I'm proud to have voted for these bills, and to see them pass overwhelmingly. Between 1999 and 2017, over 700,000 Americans died due to drug overdose, while countless more struggled with addiction. Tragically, 68% of drug overdose deaths involved opioids. At the peak of this epidemic, there were 81 active opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in American.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-and-bost-introduce-legislation-address-rural-teacher-shortages,Finkenauer and Bost Introduce Legislation to Address Rural Teacher Shortages,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today,U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to combat inadequate funding and teacher shortages in rural schools. The Rural Education Investment Act requires the Secretary of Education to determine the percentage of K-12 students living in rural areas and ensures it is equal to the percentage of Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant dollars going to schools in rural areas. The TQP Grant Program allows teachers to be placed in a full-time classroom clinical practice while completing Master's-level coursework. All Iowa students deserve access to a high-quality education wherever their home may be, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, From Grinnell, to Northwood, to Waukon, the Rural Education Investment Act will help ensure Iowa schools have a pipeline of great teachers. After attacks on our public school teachers in the Iowa state legislature, we must do everything we can in Congress to recruit and retain teachers in our state. I am proud to join Congressman Bost in pushing for this bipartisan bill to become law. We must continue to look at finding solutions to build up and support our teachers and our kids. All students deserve access to a quality education, regardless of where they live, said Congressman Bost. A major part of that comes by educating and training highly qualified teachers. While Southern Illinois is blessed with many amazing educational professionals, rural communities face unique challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure that rural areas receive assistance and resources necessary to grow the next generation of America's leaders. Through establishing model residency programs, the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program is essential in preparing educators of the 21st century, said Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association. NEA is proud to support the Rural Education Investment Act to ensure rural communities benefit from TQP and receive a pool of talented, licensed, and effective educators, just as their suburban and urban counterparts. The Rural Education Investment Act is supported by the National Education Association, the School Superintendents Association, the National Rural Education Association, the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition, the Iowa State Education Association, and the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-small-business-bill-passes-house-part-defense-authorization-expected,"Finkenauer Small Business Bill Passes House as part of Defense Authorization, Expected to be Signed in to Law",2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, the U.S. House of Representatives again passed Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer's (IA-01) first bill, HR 246, which will help bring investment to small businesses in Iowa. When originally passed on January 14, 2019 it was the first bill authored and passed by a freshman member of Congress, making her the youngest woman in history to pass a bill in Congress.Clickhere for a videoof Finkenauer speaking in support of HR 246 on the House floor. I always remember why I came to Congress, which is to always stand up for the future of Iowa, so I'm happy that my first bill to help Iowa's small businesses grow was again passed by the House and is on its way to becoming law, Finkenauer said. As Chairwoman of the Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade and Entrepreneurship Subcommittee, I've been focused on ways we can grow Iowa's main streets and support our small businesses which are the backbone of our communities. To help put innovative small businesses on the map, Congress created the Small Business Innovative Research program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. These initiatives provide capital and other support to allow small businesses to engage in federal research and development with the goal of commercialization. Thebill would help more small businesses access theSBIRand STTR programs, especially in rural communities. Specifically, the bill would require acquisition personnel to conduct outreach so more small firms can benefit from theSBIRand STTR programs. Finkenauer's bill passed today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, S.1790 (NDAA). The NDAA is an important piece of must-pass, bipartisan legislation that Congress considers annually. It is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-votes-largest-pay-raise-military-members-decade,Finkenauer Votes for Largest Pay Raise for Military Members in a Decade,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenuer (IA-01) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation will include a 3.1% pay raise for military service members, the largest pay increase approved by Congress in the last decade. Right now, there are many Iowans who are deployed and will spend the holidays away from their families, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, While I know this is a hard time to be apart, I hope that providing this pay raise will mean the holidays will be just a little brighter for our men and women who serve our country. I am also proud that my bill, which passed the House in the first two weeks of Congress, was included in the package and is now on its way to becoming law. It will directly help create more opportunity in Iowa. The legislation includes two provisions that Congresswoman Finkenauer introduced this year: The Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act Secures Military Asset Corrosion and Readiness Priority The NDAA also includes other key provisions that will help hard-working Iowans. It will authorize 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal workers. The legislation also includes several provisions strengthening protections and support for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. Background on the Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act The bipartisan bill helps small businesses apply for government technology grants and contracts. To help put innovative small firms on the map, Congress created the Small Business Innovative Research program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. These initiatives provide capital and other support to allow small businesses to engage in federal research and development with the goal of commercialization. Thebill would help more small businesses access theSBIRand STTR programs, especially in rural communities. Specifically, the bill would require acquisition personnel to conduct outreach so more small firms can benefit from theSBIRand STTR programs. Congresswoman Finkenauer introduced this bill in January, it is the first bill passed by a freshman member of Congress. Background on Securing Military Asset Corrosion and Readiness Priority The NDAA includes Finkenauer's report language requiring the Department of Defense to study shortfalls in military painter training. This training, some of which is provided by the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) STAR4D program, is critical to helping reduce corrosion of military assets while keeping costs down and ensuring military readiness. Earlier this year, Finkenauer worked directly with the committee on the language, which was offered during the committee mark-up of the bill by Readiness Subcommittee Chair John Garamendi (CA-3) and approved unanimously, with every Democratic and Republican member of the Committee voting for it. Finkenauer's efforts highlight the good work already happening at UNI and other institutions that are strengthening the military's civilian workforce through painter training. The amendment adopted today is a first step towards better understanding how we can better protect our investments in military equipment through corrosion control. The University of Northern Iowa runs the STAR4D program, which trains military painters at depots and other military facilities across the country. According to the Southwest Research Institute, military painter training helped Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania use 8,100 fewer gallons of corrosion-resistant coatings per year, saving the depot$500,000 per year through improved transfer efficiency and reduced rework.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-reps-call-administration-uphold-integrity-rfs,Iowa Reps Call on Administration to Uphold Integrity of RFS,2019-12-11,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01),Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) sent a letter to Russell Vought, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump, about the EPA's October supplemental proposed rule regarding the reallocation of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, December 6, 2019 the EPA sent their proposed rule to OMB for final review. The Members of Congress expressed serious concerns that the rule as drafted fails to keep the RFS whole, and called on Vought to ensure that the final rule upholds the Administration's guarantee of blending 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol on an annual basis, as is mandated by law. CLICK HERE to read the letter. As we travel through our districts in Iowa, we hear first-hand from farmers, renewable fuel producers, and rural communities about the harm caused by the explosion of small refinery exemption (SRE) applications that EPA has approved in recent years. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis,the Members wrote.The RFS promises our rural economies that 15-billion gallons of conventional ethanol and increasing volumes of advanced biofuels such as biodiesel will be blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply. Without a binding commitment that EPA will account for exemptions granted by EPA, this rule fails to keep the RFS whole. The Members concluded,The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that the final rule upholds the integrity of the RFS, avoids further plant closures, and provides farmers and producers certainty going forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397332,Loebsack Statement on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),2019-12-10,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after a deal was reached on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).I am pleased that the negotiators have come to an agreement on a new trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Throughout this process, I have fought the offshoring of Iowa jobs and have been closely monitoring the negotiations to ensure Iowa's workers, farmers and manufacturing companies are protected. In the end, this agreement contains many components that I have said must be included, such as robust enforcement mechanisms, strong rights for workers, high standards for the environment and preserving Congress's power to improve access to affordable prescriptions. The President's Twitter Trade War has harmed farmers and manufactures, and I'm hopeful this agreement will finally provide them with the certainty they need. Now, it is critical that these provisions be accurately reflected in the final text and that Iowa's working families will be the ones benefitting from this deal.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-authors-amendments-bolster-hr-3,Axne Authors Amendments to Bolster H.R. 3,2019-12-10,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) submitted four amendments to H.R. 3 to better serve Iowans she has met with over the past 12 months. H.R. 3 will cap out of pocket Medicare drug costs for seniors, allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and is expected to be voted on Thursday, December 12th. Axne's first amendment requires the FDA to report which prescription drugs only have one manufacturer, thus making them vulnerable to price increases. Currently vincristine, a pediatric cancer drug, is experiencing a shortage because the only drug company who made it had a manufacturing issue, resulting in the shortage. Axne, along with ten bipartisan Members of Congress, have already sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting information about this shortage. The vincristine shortage puts children's lives at risk all because we placed our faith into one company without a backup plan. I know there are hundreds of vital drugs that face shortages any given year, which is why I'm calling on the FDA to provide a full list to Congress and outline their plan for improvement, said Rep. Axne. Parents need answers for their children, doctors need answers for their patients, and no American should worry their life saving medication is just going to up and vanish. Axne's second amendment will create a grant program to help reduce health care administrative costs and burdens, as well as reduce costs associated with health care administration by 50% at the federal level. In 2016, a study found that doctors are spending almost twice as much time on administrative work as they do seeing patients. Congresswoman Axne has met with doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other health providers who are feeling burnt out by paperwork which only exacerbates the doctor shortage that's already occurring in rural America. Ask any health care professional about the excessive and laborious paperwork they have to do, and they'll tell you that it's burning them out on top of wasting time and money. Our hospitals and health clinics are overworked, which is why this amendment is needed now more than ever. By providing grant opportunities to find innovative solutions, we can get out from under the paperwork. This amendment also focuses on reducing the administrative work at the federal level by 50% in 10 years, meaning this grant program will pay for itself, Rep Axne said. Axne's third amendment ensures that no less than 5% of the $500 billion dollars in savings from H.R. 3 will be used to fund the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network through the National Institute of Health. Rare diseases that impact less than 200,000 people often do not get the attention and funding that other, more common diseases receive. Diseases such as Hepatic Porphyria or CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder are just some of the rare diseases that need more investment and funding. Ensuring that no less than 5% of this funding is spent on this research can yield important scientific breakthroughs for many other diseases. I've met with parents whose children have rare diseases. It is heartbreaking and we need to do more to find new treatments, and hopefully cures, said Rep. Axne. We need to do more to accelerate innovation, develop new treatments, and better understand how and why rare diseases happen. That's why I'm submitting this amendment, to fight for those parents and those children. I've been a voice for those with rare diseases and I'll continue to make sure Congress is investing in important research, treatments, education, awareness and hopefully one day a cure. Axne's fourth amendment works to protect Iowans from surprise billing. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Axne introduced the UPDATE Act that would help reduce surprise medical bills by requiring insurance companies to update their network directories. Congresswoman Axne has heard countless stories from seniors and families who called their insurance company, checked to make sure a medical test, procedure, or doctor's visit would be covered only to get a bill in the mail a few weeks later because the insurance company had not updated their records. Patients should be able to trust that when their insurance company tells them a provider is in network, they won't get hit with a surprise out-of-network bill, said Rep. Axne. Middle-class families can't afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills because an insurance company didn't update their website. This commonsense legislation puts the onus on insurance companies to ensure patients are making medical decisions based on accurate information. Axne has been a vocal champion for lowering the cost of health care since she was elected. In January, she joined a bipartisan bill to ensure health insurance coverage for children born with oral birth defects. In March, she was elected to serve on the Congressional Health Care Task Force that works on commonsense solutions to lower prescription drug costs, improve the health care system, and expand access. In May, with Congresswoman Axne's support, the House passed a package of bills that would better protect Iowans with pre-existing conditions. In June, the Congresswoman introduced a bipartisan bill that would provide regulatory relief to rural hospitals and keep providers in rural areas serving their patients, which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee. In July, the House passed Axne-sponsored Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act to repeal the 40% excise tax on employer provided health insurance plans. The Congresswoman also is a member of Rare Disease Caucus, ALS Caucus, Deadliest Cancers Caucus, and others.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-praises-deal-usmca,Rep. Axne Praises Deal on the USMCA,2019-12-10,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) released the following statement today after Speaker Pelosi's announcement on the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). I am pleased that the USMCA is ready, Rep. Axne said. I have long been an advocate for getting this agreement done so our farmers and manufacturers can have certainty in our two largest markets. Farmers have had a tough few years, with a harmful trade war, devastating weather and a RFS being undermined by the EPA. This agreement would provide certainty for farmers and producers by ending the threat of back and forth retaliatory tariffs that this administration has pursued. I am thankful that the House Working Group and U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer worked in good faith and negotiated a better deal for all Americans and did so before the year end. Rep. Axne has been a leader in calling for action on USMCA. In October, Rep. Axne spoke on the House floor and urged her colleagues to continue to work to finalize the agreement. Last Thursday, Rep. Axne sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer and called for action on the USMCA before the end of the year. Trade is fundamental to the state of Iowa, Rep. Axne wrote. Iowa ranks first in the nation in exports of corn, pork, feed and other grains, and is number two in soybeans. Last year alone Iowa exported $4.2 billion in goods to Canada, 30 percent of the state's total exports, and $2.3 billion to Mexico. Overall, Iowa is the second largest agricultural exporting state in the country. Modernizing our trade agreement with our two closest neighbors is critical to ensuring market stability for Iowans. USMCA would modernize and build upon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which went into effect in 1994. The three countries signed USMCA in November of 2018 and on May 30, 2019 the administration submitted the text of the agreement to Congress. Speaker Pelosi then convened the House Working Group to review the text and negotiate with Ambassador Lighthizer over final provisions. Rep. Axne raised concerns about the provisions dealing with labor enforcement mechanisms and intellectual property rights for pharmaceuticals. She remained committed to ensuring the final deal would improve upon labor protections and enforcements from NAFTA. ""The enhanced labor protections in the USMCA are good news for Iowa workers. If we didn't work so hard to get this right, we would continue to see Iowa workers undermined and our American-made products undercut. This is an improvement that will benefit Iowa workers and keep our middle class strong Axne said. I am also glad that the biologics title was removed so Iowa families will not face higher costs for certain pharmaceuticals. A copy of the letter Rep. Axne sent last week may be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-new-trade-deal-canada-and-mexico,Finkenauer Statement on New Trade Deal with Canada and Mexico,2019-12-10,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the announcement of a new trade deal between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The deal that democrats secured today through the Trade Representative, working with Canada and Mexico, provides certainty to our farmers that the president won't pull out of NAFTA or close down the border, as he has dangerously threatened to do. It also ensures we can enforce labor and environmental standards that will protect Iowa jobs, and eliminates a provision in the original USMCA that would have locked in high prescription drug prices for years to come. While this is a historic update to an important trade deal with our largest trading partners, I will continue to focus on issues that are hurting our agriculture and manufacturing economy in Iowa. As we still lack any agreement or certainty in markets with China for our soybean farmers and manufacturers, and have seen the devastating effects of this administration siding with big oil over our corn growers, I remain as concerned as I was yesterday about the future of our economy in Iowa. I hope our Governor and Senators will join me in my urgency to the Trump administration to not ignore what we see happening on the ground and in our communities in Iowa from bankruptcy to ethanol plant closures, we cannot let up.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-urges-medicaid-reforms-letter-gov-reynolds-response-mental-health,Finkenauer Urges Medicaid Reforms in Letter to Gov. Reynolds in Response to Mental Health Center Closure,2019-12-10,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)sent a letter to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to express deep concern over the recently announced closure of Hillcrest Family Services' Subacute Mental Health Services Program in Dubuque. Hillcrest's difficult decision to discontinue subacute services is largely credited to the state's system of privatized Medicaid and a lack of state investment in critical health services. This closure will mean less access to critical mental health care for people in Iowa's First Congressional District, and Finkenauer is asking for reform to prevent future closures. Finkenauer said,Medicaid managed care is causing heartbreaking situations in our district and state, and it's simply a failed policy. I have heard stories from my own constituents who were denied life-saving tube feedings. Every day this failed and devastating policy isn't fixed, more and more vulnerable Iowans and families will pay the price. The Branstad-Reynolds administration already ignored warnings about Medicaid managed care, and it's clear now Governor Reynoldscontinues to turn a blind eye to the pain being caused across Iowa. The stories and heartbreak continue. In my federal legislative role I'm encouraged by the ongoing federal investigation into managed care organizations, but continue to be concerned by inaction in Iowa. Iowa is my home and my constituents deserve more attention during this ongoing needless crisis. Access to mental health services dwindling in Iowa despite need: Iowa already ranks last in the nation when it comes to the availability of in-patient psychiatric treatment and is experiencing a shortage of mental health providers, including psychiatrists. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health: Approximately 600,000 Iowans are living with some type of mental illness 16.5% of young people experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people). For those living with mental illness, it takes an average of 11 years for them to get treatment from the first time that they experience symptoms. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. Failure of Iowa's Medicaid managed care policy reducing access: Low and inconsistent reimbursements have impacted Hillcrest's bottom line and made it difficult to continue providing care. In the last several years, Hillcrest was forced to go without hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to them by the big insurance companies controlling Iowa's Medicaid program. The state's failure to address the ever-growing problems within Medicaid managed care has put access to mental health care for all Iowans at risk, Finkenauer wrote to Reynolds. Department of Health and Human Services investigating Iowa's Medicaid managed care: This summer, Finkenauer led members of the Iowa delegation in a letter supporting U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Daniel Levinson's investigation into whether Medicaid managed care organizations have complied with federal requirements when denying patients access to requested services and prescriptions. Finkenauer plans to send a copy of the letter to the Office of the Inspector General to update the new Acting Inspector General on the state of privatized Medicaid in Iowa. HHS' investigation into Iowa's managed care organizations is expected to be completed in 2020.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-urges-action-usmca,Axne Urges Action on USMCA,2019-12-05,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer urging action on the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement is in the final stages of negotiations between Congressional leadership and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizier. With only 9 legislative days remaining before the end of the year, Rep. Axne is calling for action. Trade is fundamental to the state of Iowa, Rep. Axne wrote. Iowa ranks first in the nation in exports of corn, pork, feed and other grains, and is number two in soybeans. Last year alone Iowa exported $4.2 billion in goods to Canada, 30 percent of the state's total exports, and $2.3 billion to Mexico. Overall, Iowa is the second largest agricultural exporting state in the country. Modernizing our trade agreement with our two closest neighbors is critical to ensuring market stability for Iowans. USMCA would modernize and build upon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which went into effect in 1994. Rep. Axne has heard from many constituents across her district about the importance of ensuring market access for Iowa's agricultural and manufacturing products in Canada and Mexico, Iowa's top two trading partners. Iowa farmers are facing rising levels of farm debt and an EPA that is working to undermine the RFS, hurting demand for corn and soybeans, and are asking for certainty in this agreement. Iowa farmers have had a tough year with devastating weather across the state, ongoing trade wars harming export markets, and an EPA set on undermining the RFS and destroying demand for corn and soybeans, Rep. Axne wrote. A finalized trade agreement would provide certainty for farmers and producers by ending the threat of back and forth retaliatory tariffs that this administration has pursued. In October, Rep. Axne spoke on the House floor and urged her colleagues to continue to work to finalize the agreement. Also within the USMCA agreement are provisions dealing with labor standard protections and intellectual property rights for pharmaceuticals that the House Working Groups are still negotiating. Rep. Axne wants an agreement that will strengthen oversight standards so foreign companies don't undercut U.S. jobs and wages, and help reduce the cost of biologic prescription drugs for Iowans. ""If we don't get the labor enforcement provisions right, Mexico will continue to undercut our pricing and our workers Axne said. That's why I'm working hard to ensure we have enforcement mechanisms in place. A copy of the letter may be found here. Full speech with audio available here:https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4824407/user-clip-ca-usmca-floor-speech",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-helps-pass-bill-stop-predatory-robocalls,Finkenauer Helps Pass Bill to Stop Predatory Robocalls,2019-12-04,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)voted to pass the bipartisan and bicameral Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. The bill passed the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon 417-3. I heard directly from folks in my district about how robocalls are impacting them, and since then, have been working to take action. It's heartbreaking to hear stories of people who handed over hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to a scammer,Congresswoman Finkenauer said,These con artists target vulnerable people in our communities to intimidate them into wiring money or giving up personal information that could lead to identity theft. We need to look out for our fellow Iowans and I'm happy to be taking additional action to stop these abusive practices. Since hearing directly from constituents in a Dubuque townhall, Finkenauer has been working across the aisle to try and stop Iowans from being targeted by robocalls. In July, shecosponsored and helped pass theStopping Bad Robocalls Act. While robocalls can be an annoying nuisance, they are becoming more harmful and predatory. Robocalls have been disguised as the IRS looking to collect a debt, local governments and police departments, and loved ones, in trouble, looking for help. Congress has even heard stories of scammers disrupting the operations of hospitals. 2018 saw a nearly 60% increase in the number of robocalls over the previous year and this disturbing trend continues. Approximately half of all calls made to US cell phones in 2019 will be spam, according to the FCC. The TRACED Act: Requires carriers to offer call-authentication technology to consumers and small businessesin rural and urban Americaat no additional charge; Requires Opt-in or opt-out robocall blocking be offered at no additional charge to consumers; Gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to step up enforcement actions against unlawful robocalls with a longer statute of limitations and increased fines in certain cases; Pushes the Department of Justice to bring more criminal prosecutions against criminal robocallers; Requires the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams; Helps the FCC and responsible carriers traceback and cutoff suspect phone companies that are responsible for sending vast numbers of unlawful robocalls; and Protects patients, doctors and hospitals from unlawful robocalls.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-leads-oversight-small-business-administration-s-rural-office,Finkenauer Leads Oversight of Small Business Administrations Rural Office,2019-12-03,2019,2019-12,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Chairwoman of the House Small Business Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE) Subcommittee, led an oversight effort focused on the Office of Rural Affairs at the Small Business Administration (SBA). The letter asks the Office's new director, Michelle Christian, how she plans to ensure the Office is established properly and how it will serve rural entrepreneurs, especially those in our agricultural communities. Finkenauer was joined on the letter by Rep. T.J. Cox (D-CA-21) and RATE Subcommittee members Reps. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS-AL) and Angie Craig (D-MN-02). We are glad that the Small Business Administration has chosen a director to lead its Office of Rural Affairs. However, we still have outstanding questions about the Office's mission and operations,Finkenauer and the members wrote,The Office of Rural Affairs is needed now more than ever, and we want to know that the Office will serve these agricultural operations and businesses. The purpose of Finkenauer's letter is to: Find out why the SBA decided to appoint a director to the Office of Rural Affairs despite the Office not being fully established for more than 25 years Find out what the strategic plan for the Office looks like, requesting information on the Office's size, scope, and budget Find out how the office will serve farmers and rural small business that face a wide range of challenges Find out how Congress can ensure a strong partnership with the Office to serve rural America Congresswoman Finkenauer has pushed for answers on the SBA's Office of Rural Affairs since May 2019. Only recently, Finkenauer's office discovered the SBA appointed Christian to direct the Office, but the SBA has failed to communicate about the Office's operations and services. The letter requests a response from Director Christian within 60 days. Background The Office of Rural Affairs was authorized in the Small Business Act in 1990 to help the SBA effectively serve farmers and rural small businesses. Public record shows the Office of Rural Affairs was briefly initiated in the early 1990s but never fully established. For over 25 years, despite clear legislative intent, the Small Business Administration has not implemented the law and fully established the Office. Congresswoman Finkenauer has helped lead concerned members of Congress in learning more about the history of the Office of Rural Affairs, why it was disbanded, and how it will be reestablished to best serve rural America. Timeline In May 2019, Congresswoman Finkenauer co-ledH.R. 2633with Reps. Cox (D-CA) and Radewagen (R-AS) requiring the SBA to submit a report on when and why the Office of Rural Affairs was disbanded and the costs and potential benefits of reestablishing the Office. In July 2019, Congresswoman Finkenauer joined 16 colleagues in a bipartisan request for information about the history of the Office from the SBA's Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. The letter never received a response. In August 2019, the SBA chose a director to lead its Office of Rural Affairs. However, many questions remained unanswered about the Office's history, mission, and operations. On November 14, 2019, Congresswoman Finkenauer helda Small Business Rural Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE) Subcommittee oversight hearing. She invited Michelle Christian, the new director of the Office of Rural Affairs, to testify about what was happening at the office prior to her appointment and what the office is doing now to serve rural small businesses. Many questions about the Office's history and strategic planning, however, remain unanswered.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-grant-new-disability-transport-vans,Finkenauer Announces Grant for New Disability Transport Vans,2019-11-27,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced a $50,000 grant is being awarded to the Makoqueta-based Imagine the Possibilities, Inc. The grant is being distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office. Empowering those who empower others can have an incredible impact on our communities. This grant will go a long way to ensuring some of our friends and neighbors can lead fulfilling and independent lives,Congresswoman Finkenauer said,I am committed to elevating the needs and voices in our community, and work with anyone who is serious about improving lives for folks in our district. The grant will be used to purchase two transportation vans for individuals with disabilities in the community. The vehicles will be used in and around Maquoketa and will replace high-mileage vehicles. Imagine the Possibilities, Inc. provides community-based services to people with disabilities. The organization one of the largest in Iowa providing a variety of services and service locations to individuals with developmental disabilities. Congresswoman Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District which includes Makoqueta.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-visits-decorah-social-security-office,Finkenauer Visits Decorah Social Security Office,2019-11-26,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)visited the Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Decorah. Finkenauer met with Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski and the Social Security Administration's Regional Public Affairs Office Communications Director, Jewell Colbert. Colbert informed Finkenauer and Borowski that the office will remain staffed with in-person services, confirming a letter Finkenauer received from the SSA last week. Mayor Borowski and the folks who rely on this facility raised their voices, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, They told Washington not to close down this office down, and we were happy to make sure the community was heard. I want to thank Mayor Borowski for sending me the first letter which raised the alarm on this issue, and I want to thank Jewell Colbert and his staff for working with my office to bring the community answers. I am happy Social Security beneficiaries in Decorah, and surrounding Iowa communities, will still have the services they can depend on. Last month,Finkenauer sent a letter to the Social Security Administrationpushing for answers on what the SSA planned to do with the Decorah office. In August, members of the community learned that the Social Security Administration might close the Decorah field office and explore ways to offer to services remotely through videoconferencing. After hearing from community members worried about the closure, Rep. Finkenauer decided to write to the Social Security Administration to express these concerns and get the facts for Social Security beneficiaries in Northeast Iowa. Mayor Lorraine Borowski said, ""As mayor of Decorah and on behalf of the citizens of this rural northeast area corner of the state, I greatly appreciated Representative Finkenauer's due diligence in assuring that there will be a face to face social security representative for our office. In a letter to Finkenauer, theSSA Regional Commissioner Linda G. Kerr-Davis wrote,we currently do not plan to close the Decorah, IA resident station. Rather, we plan to supplement our in-person service by offering an additional video service option and provide tailored public service through accessible community-based facilities. The Decorah office serves beneficiaries from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, many of whom drive hours to for an in-person meeting with trained staff, as opposed to handling claims or appeals online. Congresswoman Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District, which includes Decorah and parts of the surrounding area, which is served by the Social Security field office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-visits-small-businesses-fayette,Finkenauer Visits Small Businesses in Fayette,2019-11-26,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Finkenauer Visits Small Businesses in Fayette WASHINGTON, DC Monday, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) toured Main Street in Fayette, Iowa. Finkenauer was joined by Fayette Mayor Andrew Wenthe. Ensuring our rural small businesses have the tools they need to thrive is one of my top priorities, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, As we move closer to the holiday shopping season, it's important to remember our locally-owned family businesses are the backbone of our community. I will continue standing up for our local small business owners and hard-working families, like those that I met today. Monday's stop was an opportunity to hear from small business owner in downtown Fayette on what tools are most helpful to entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses in rural communities. Finkenauer stopped at six local businesses in Fayette: Poor Automotive Beauty Room Fayette Sweets Shrubb's Street Eatery Scott Pharmacy Driftless Area Guide Company Finkenauer also visited Upper Iowa University. Earlier this year, Finkenauer led a bipartisan effort that secured robust funding for programs that help entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses, including Small Business Development Centers, Microloan Technical Assistance, Women's Business Centers, State and Trade Export Promotion, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, and SCORE, which connects budding entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders who volunteer their assistance. The Trump Administration had previously proposed cuts to these programs but Finkenauer successfully worked with her Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives, not only preventing the cuts but strengthening the programs that have been working for entrepreneurs across the state. Finknenauer is a member of the House Committee on Small Business and is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-speaks-about-independence-iowa-mental-health-institute-attack-during,"Finkenauer Speaks about Independence, Iowa Mental Health Institute Attack during House Floor Speech",2019-11-22,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Thursday,Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) shared the story of Tina Suckow during a floor speech to the U.S. House of Representatives. Finkenauer was speaking in favor of House Resolution 1309, theWorkplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. Finkenauer cosponsored and voted for the legislation, which passed 251-158 on Friday. Tina wants her story shared so that employees like her are protected. Finkenauer said,Today, I will be casting this vote this vote for Tina Suckow, who I know is watching at home today. This bill will require places, like the State of Iowa, to stop failing their employees by requiring workplace protections and is a first step in protecting Iowans on the front lines. I'm standing with our hard-working men and women, today, who ask for a safe workplace. Suckow was badly injured during a 2018 incident where she and her coworkers were trying to subdue an agitated patient. The patient hit Suckow repeatedly causing neurological damage and injuring her knee and shoulder. Suckow is still physically unable to return to work, and the State of Iowa kicked her off the payroll resulting in the loss of her health insurance. According to arecent reportby the Associated Press, Staffers at theIndependence Mental Health Institutestruggle to manage violent outbursts due to inadequate emergency response plans, low staffing levels, poor communication and ineffective safety shields that they're not trained to use, according to an inspection conducted by the IowaOccupational Safety and Health Administration. Finkenauer harshly criticized a 2017 state law which stripped collective bargaining rights from state employees and weakened requirements for workplace safety plans. H.R. 1309 would require the U.S. Department of Labor to address workplace violence in health care and social service sectors.It would require certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for protecting health care workers, social service workers, and other personnel from workplace violence.It would also require certain employers to: investigate workplace violence incidents, risks, or hazards as soon as possible provide training and education to employees who may be exposed to workplace violence hazards and risks meet record keeping requirements prohibit acts of discrimination or retaliation against employees for reporting workplace violence incidents, threats, or concerns",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397331,Loebsacks Legislation to Improve Broadband Availability Maps Passes House Committee,2019-11-21,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed his bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4229, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act. Loebsack's legislation will help improve the accuracy of FCC broadband data maps by changing the way broadband data is collected. The legislation was cosponsored by Reps. Bob Latta (OH-05), Billy Long (MO-07) and Donald McEachin (VA-04) and now heads to the full House for its consideration. CLICK HERE for video of Loebsack discussing his Broadband DATA Act.I am very pleased that the House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed the Broadband DATA Act by unanimous vote. This bill is important to actually fixing the problem and getting highspeed broadband to where it is needed, especially in rural areas. Without the best data available, we cannot properly invest in building out broadband access. I look forward to getting this legislation passed in the House and on its way to the Senate, said Loebsack.Specifically, the Broadband DATA Act: Requires the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers Requires strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy. Asks the FCC to consider whether to collect verified coverage data from state, local, and tribal governments, as well as from other entities. Creates a process for consumers, state, local, and Tribal governments, and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data, and requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on challengers.A significant digital divide remains between urban and rural America. Congressman Loebsack is a leader in working to close this divide by promoting broadband deployment throughout rural America. Loebsack serves on the Communications and Technology subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications issues. He also serves as a co-chair of the Rural Broadband Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-94-million-grant-iowa-bus-system-improvements,Finkenauer Announces $9.4 Million Grant for Iowa Bus System Improvements,2019-11-21,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced the Iowa Department of Transportation will receive a $9,414,785.00 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Buses and Bus Facilities Program. This grant will help the State finance buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities. Iowa has one of the oldest bus systems in the country, and ensuring it stays up and running is critical to ensuring Iowans can get to work, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I am happy to see this significant investment being made in our state. I'm hopeful that this will result in direct and noticeable improvements for people in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, and the rest our district and state. Whether it's our crumbling roads and bridges, or our public transportation systems, it is critical that we keep working to improve our infrastructure. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, the grant will be used to replace 107 of the oldest public transportation buses in the state.21 public transportation systems will receive funding. Earlier this year, Rep. Finkenauer urged the House Appropriations Committee to increase funding for this important program. Last year, Iowa received a $7,000,000 grant from the same U.S. DOT program which was meant to replace rural buses. Iowa has 23 rural public transit systems that provided 4.3 million trips in 2017. Congresswoman Finkenauer serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. She is committed to rebuilding Iowa's infrastructure, and ensuring it's done with quality American-made materials and by local, local hard-working skilled laborers. Finkenauer has championed the bipartisanRural Road Safety Act and Fixing America's Bridges Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-introduces-resolution-supporting-national-rural-health-day,Finkenauer Introduces Resolution Supporting National Rural Health Day,2019-11-20,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)introduced a congressional resolution to recognize and support National Rural Health Day, which is tomorrow, November 21, 2019. Sixty million hardworking Americans live in rural communities and are increasingly facing barriers to accessing the health care services they need. This is because our rural health facilities face systemic challenges, including low reimbursements, physician workforce shortages, and difficulty accessing certain technologies like telehealth. National Rural Health Day was established in 2010 to emphasize the importance of rural America and recognize the efforts and contributions to address the unique challenges in rural health care. Finkenauer's National Rural Health Day Resolution expresses that Congress supports the goals and ideals of National Rural Health Day, celebrates rural health care providers and rural Americans, and commits to advancing policy to improve health care accessibility and affordability in rural America. High quality healthcare is important all across Iowa and deserves special attention to make sure that no matter where you live, you have access, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I look forward to celebrating National Rural Health Day tomorrow. Our health care providers are doing amazing work serving rural America, but there's a lot of work to be done to increase health care access while lowering cost. Dr. Marygrace Elson, President of the Iowa Medical Society, said, RuralIowa faces significant and growinghealthaccess issues. In many corners of our state, patients must travel long distances for even basic medical care and manyruralfacilities are facing difficult decisions regarding the services they are able to continue to provide. We must do more to supportruralpractices andruralrecruitment efforts.NationalRuralHealthDay is an opportunity to reflect upon the challenges facingruralAmerica and the opportunities to address them. This includes common sense measures like expansion of the successful Conrad 30 program to aid in physician recruitment efforts, increased support for telehealth infrastructure and services, and at long last taking action to address the Geographic Practice Cost Index that arbitrarily and unfairly reduces Medicare payment rates for practices inruralcommunities. We thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for her continued commitment toruralhealthcare and helping to bring greater attention to this important issue. Finkenauer has led several pieces of legislation to improve access to high-quality care in rural Iowa. She is championing the Rural MOMS Act to ensure Iowa's new and expectant mothers can get access to high quality health care no matter where they live, the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Actto adjust Medicare reimbursement rates so rural health care providers are more fairly compensated, and the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act to address Iowa's physician shortage. Joining Finkenauer as original cosponsors of the National Rural Health Day Resolution are: Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ-1), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-4), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE-3), Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-2), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH-5), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-7), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI-3), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-18), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA-2), and Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA-3). Organizations endorsing the resolution are: Federation of American Hospitals, Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa Medical Society, Marshfield Clinic Health System, National Association of Counties, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, National Rural Health Association, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-reps-call-mlb-halt-contraction-42-minor-league-teams,Iowa Reps Call on MLB to Halt Contraction of 42 Minor League Teams,2019-11-20,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03) released the following joint statement on Major League Baseball's proposal to strip MLB club affiliation from 42 Minor League Baseball teams, including three in Iowa: Iowa is a field of dreams for many rising professional baseball players, and as Iowans, we are proud to see the game's future stars play in our own backyards. Iowans have a deep love and passion for the game and minor league baseball teams offer Iowan families an incredible connection to America's pastime. We view Major League Baseball's proposal to eliminate some of Iowa's teams as a bad call, and we urge the league to overturn it.We will continue to stand up for the fans, players, and employees of the Burlington Bees, the Clinton LumberKings, and the Quad Cities River Bandits.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-decorah-social-security-office-will-remain-open,Finkenauer Announces Decorah Social Security Office will Remain Open,2019-11-19,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced the Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Decorah, Iowa will remain open and staffed with in-person service. In a letter to Finkenauer, the SSA Regional Commissioner Linda G. Kerr-Davis wrote, we currently do not plan to close the Decorah, IA resident station. Rather, we plan to supplement our in-person service by offering an additional video service option and provide tailored public service through accessible community-based facilities. I heard from community members in Decorah, including Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski, about how serious a potential office closure would be, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, It was important to make sure the SSA was hearing the voices of our friends and neighbors that would be impacted. I am happy to hear that the SSA will keep the Decorah office open and will still offer in-person service. Last month, Finkenauer sent a letter to the Social Security Administration pushing for answers on what the SSA planned to do with the Decorah office. In August, members of the community learned that the Social Security Administration might close the Decorah field office and explore ways to offer to services remotely through videoconferencing. After hearing from community members worried about the closure, Rep. Finkenauer decided to write to the Social Security Administration to express these concerns and get the facts for Social Security beneficiaries in Northeast Iowa. The Decorah office serves beneficiaries from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, many of whom drive hours to for an in-person meeting with trained staff, as opposed to handling claims or appeals online. Congresswoman Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District, which includes Decorah and parts of the surrounding area, which is served by the Social Security field office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-federal-grant-early-childhood-development-programs,Finkenauer Announces Federal Grant for Early Childhood Development Programs,2019-11-15,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) will receive a $1,718,924 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. MICA primarily serves families in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story, and Tama counties. The grant money can be applied to Head Start programs which help young children from low-income families be prepared to begin and succeed in school. Congresswoman Finkenauer recently visited Woodbury Elementary School in Marshalltown to talk with students there about the importance of education and leadership, and has been prioritizing ensuring Iowa's children and students have the support they need to be successful and contribute to Iowa's economic growth. We need to make sure our young kids have every opportunity to start on a level playing field. We know that early childhood development is an incredibly important, and has a direct link to success, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, This grant will mean more kids from our community get the chance to start school on the right foot, and I'm happy to see this type of investment. I will continue fighting to ensure all our young kids get opportunities to participate in early childhood development programs. Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc. (MICA) is a private, nonprofit organization serving children and families in central Iowa. Established in 1965 to serve children and families affected by the conditions of poverty, MICA provides early childhood, health, family development and housing services as well as community enrichment programs. BACKGROUND ON HEAD START: Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in centers, child care partner locations, and in their own homes. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being. Since Head Start was founded in 1965, Head Start has grown from an eight-week demonstration project to include full day/year services and numerous program options. Head Start has served over 30 million children.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397329,Loebsack Introduces Resolution Honoring the Importance of School Psychologists,2019-11-13,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack recently introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize the week of November 11-15, 2019 as National School Psychology Week. H.Res.692 honors the work of school psychologists as an integral part of the dedicated team of professionals working in our schools to ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve academic success and reach their full potential. The resolution is supported by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).When students have access to the support and resources they need to succeed, they learn more and live a healthier life. Every day, school psychologists work tirelessly to help provide students with those resources, said Rep. Loebsack. School psychologists play a critical role in our educational system and I am proud to again introduce this resolution to honor their hard work.School psychologists are uniquely qualified and critical members of school teams who support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach by applying their expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior. Now more than ever, we need the work that school psychologists do to keep schools safe and free of violence, and to improve the academic achievement of students. We greatly appreciate that Congressman Loebsack recognizes the important work that school psychologists do every day, and for his sponsorship of this Congressional resolution recognizing National School Psychology Week, said NASP Executive Director, Dr. Kathleen Minke.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/dubuque-receive-grant-us-department-transportation,Dubuque to Receive Grant from U.S. Department of Transportation,2019-11-07,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)announced Dubuque County will receive a $5,452,023.00 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. The grant money is approved for use on several repairs and improvements in Dubuque. Our roads, highways, and bridges are critical to ensuring our communities continue to thrive, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, While a long term solution for repairing our infrastructure is needed, I am happy to see this type of investment in our district, and I know it will mean improvements that people will notice every day. The grant can be applied toward: - Roadway repairs, intersection improvements, and a trail extension on the northwest side of Dubuque - Resurfacing, rehabilitating, and, adding signalized intersections at W. John Deere Road and U.S. 52 and W. John Deere Road and S. John Deere Road - Reconstructing approximately 3.1 miles of the Northwest Arterial - Adding turn lanes at the Peru Road and S. John Deere Road intersection - Adding southbound lane on S. John Deere Road from W. John Deere to South of Peru road - Constructing a new multi-use trail to connect the John Deere factory with the Heritage Trail Congresswoman Finkenauer is committed to rebuilding Iowa's infrastructure, and ensuring it's done with quality American-made materials and by local, local hard-working skilled laborers. As a member of the House Transportation & Highway Committee, she has introduced the bipartisan Rural Road Safety Act. Finkenauer also serves as Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-and-horn-lead-letter-leadership-urging-extension-key-biofuels-tax,Finkenauer and Horn Lead Letter to Leadership Urging Extension of Key Biofuels Tax Incentives,2019-11-06,2019,2019-11,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)and Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-05) led a Democratic caucus letter to House leadership urging action on extension of the biodiesel tax credit. Specifically, the lawmakers are asking for extensions of the biodiesel, alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, and second generation biofuel producer tax credits. In the letter addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal,the representatives wrote, we respectfully urge you to find a path forward for the expired clean energy tax incentives that have lapsed in recent years. Extending the biodiesel, alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, and second generation biofuel producer tax credits are especially important to the regions we represent. Their extension is not only a step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also would bring much-needed relief to those that counted on these incentives. Joining Finkenauer and Horn on the letter were representatives;Cindy Axne (IA-03), Angie Craig (MN-02), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Collin Peterson (MN-07), T.J. Cox (CT-21), Jim Himes (CT-04), Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), David Cicilline (RI-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Jim Langevin (RI-02), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Max Rose (NY-11), Sean Casten (IL-06), Bill Foster (IL-11), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ben McAdams (UT-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ann Kuster (NH-02), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Ben Ray Lujn (NM-03), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), John Garamendi (CA-03), and Peter DeFazio (OR-04). The biodiesel tax credit has become vital to Iowa's economy by bringing down gas prices, creating opportunities for farmers and biofuel producers, and bringing down greenhouse gas emissions. Especially now, with farm income at its lowest point in more than a decade and our farmers caught in the cross-hairs of the President's trade war with China, is not the time to walk away from tax credits that have become so important to Iowa's soybean growers,Congresswoman Finkenauer said,Extending these tax credits has the support of members of Congress from New Mexico to New Hampshire, and I am hopeful that Speaker Pelosi will see the names on this letter and understand how important this is to the rural areas many of us represent. Congresswoman Horn said,Businesses need certainty to operate efficiently and effectively. Congress made a commitment that if businesses invested in alternative fuels, we would support them with these tax credits. We must keep our promise so they can continue to provide this fuel alternative and save money for consumers. Organizations supporting the letter include: The National Biodiesel Board, NATSO, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, the Iowa Soybean Association, and the National Oilseed Processors Association. Earlier this year,Finkenauer introduced a bipartisan bill to extend the biodiesel tax credit for two years. The bill currently has 64 cosponsors in the House and is referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Support for passage of a biodiesel tax credit extension: American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvallsaid, Extending the biodiesel tax credit is important to America's farmers and ranchers because it expands the market for U.S. agricultural products. That's critically important now, as farmers face a perfect storm of challenges from the farm economy, ongoing trade issues and volatile weather. Biodiesel and biofuel production facilities strengthen rural communities, providing jobs and growing tax revenues. On a broader scale, biodiesel improves our nation's energy security by diversifying our domestic supply and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. And, it enhances the environment, providing a cleaner-burning renewable replacement for diesel fuel. We urge Congress to extend the biodiesel tax credits now. Tom Brooks, General Manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, said,The U.S. biodiesel industry is at a crossroads because of the nearly two-year lapse of the biodiesel tax incentive. Producers are operating in the red while counting on Congress to once again renew tax incentives. Several have idled plants and laid off staff. We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Abby Finkenauer to resolve the crisis and provide some welcome news to Iowa's farmers and biofuel producers. Tim Bardole, President, Iowa Soybean Association, said,We appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer's ongoing effort to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive and provide certainty for rural Iowa. She has shown an understanding of the role that the tax incentive plays in supporting a critical market for Iowa soybean farmers. Rapid renewal would give a much-needed boost to the biodiesel industry and help restore soybean demand. We urge House leadership to bring an extension of the biodiesel tax incentive up for immediate consideration. Fuel retailers like Casey's have made investments in biofuel infrastructure for many years because it good for the environment, our farmers and rural communities,""said Douglas Beech, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Relations at Casey's General Stores.""These investments have helped us become more energy independent, environmentally friendly, and also to offer competitive fuel prices to our customers. We are grateful to Congresswoman Finkenauer for her leadership on this issue and encourage members of both parties to work together to extend the biodiesel tax credit."" ""The biodiesel tax credit helps Road Ranger bring to market cleaner burning fuels that support the local Iowa economy while also bringing down prices for our customers,"" said R.J. Rymas, Vice President of Fuels for Road Ranger Truck Stops and Travel Centers.""It is a win-win for us. We are very grateful for Congresswoman Finkenauer's leadership in helping extend this important policy.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397328,Loebsack Statement on Impeachment Inquiry Vote,2019-10-31,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to continue the impeachment inquiry. Today is a solemn day in the history of the U.S. House, but because of the serious allegations against the President, the House must continue its due diligence and move this investigation forward. Today's vote was a necessary step to move to the next stage of the investigation and get all the facts out in the open for the American people to see and make their own judgment. I continue to hold out hope that the administration will end its stonewalling to ensure Congress and the American people are able to follow the evidence where it may lead.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-ongoing-house-investigative-proceedings,Finkenauer Statement on Ongoing House Investigative Proceedings,2019-10-31,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on House Resolution 660: With the new information and testimony coming out, it only reinforces the concerns around President Trump's conduct. We are now seeing more evidence that draws a clearer picture showing the president may have jeopardized national security for his own personal gain. It is important that Congress, and the American people, have more opportunities to learn the facts and understand the full scope of the president's actions. The ground rules laid out in today's resolution will make testimony and facts public. It will also give President Trump a more than fair opportunity to defend his actions, going beyond other modern impeachment proceedings. I continue to support the investigations of the congressional committees looking into this matter, and will always stand by and defend the Constitution of the United States.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-meets-iowa-biofuels-producer-after-testimony-sre-impact,Finkenauer Meets with Iowa Biofuels Producer after Testimony on SRE Impact,2019-10-29,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer(IA-01)met with KellyNieuwenhuis,an Iowa family farmer andpresident of Iowa-basedand farmer-ownedSiouxland Energy Cooperative.Finkenauer andNieuwenhuisdiscussed how Iowans are being impacted by small refinery exemption(SRE)waivers, and other policyother policy proposals aimed at undercuttingthe Renewable Fuel Standard(RFS). Earlier Tuesday,Nieuwenhuistestified at the House Committee on Energy & Commerce's hearing titledProtecting the RFS: The Trump Administration's Abuse of Secret Waivers."" Plain and simple, the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) abuse of small refinery exemptions under the RFS is crippling ruralAmerica...Nieuwenhuissaid,during his opening statement,Because of the EPA's actions to help the oil industry's bottom line, at the expense of farmers and biofuelsproducers, we had to make a hard decision to idle our plant and shut off a key market for hundreds of local farmers, including myself. Nieuwenhuiswas invited to testify by Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02). Congresswoman Finkenauer said,It was incredibly important that an Iowan impacted by this administration's attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard was able to share his story. Mr.Nieuwenhuis'voice on this issue speaks for thousands of Iowans who are on the painful end of the president's broken promises. I am hopeful today's hearing moves us closer to holding the administration accountable for its attacks on the RFS, and that it pushes the administration to uphold its promises to Iowans. Earlier this summer,Finkenauer led a bipartisan callfor the Government Accountability Office to investigate the administration's secretive process for granting small refinery exemption waivers. Congresswoman Finkenauer and the representatives are asking for the GAO to investigate: The Environmental Protection Agency's approval process for small refinery exemption waivers The role of the Department of Energy in reviewing and scoring waiver applications What factors are being considering in the assessment and approval ofthese applications and whether changes have been made to the reviewprocess under the current Administration Our concerns stem from the economic consequences to our rural communities created by exempting nearly 4 billion gallons of fuel from the RFS, a standard intended to expand the nation's renewable fuels sector,Congresswoman Finkenauerand the representatives wrotein the letter,By 2016, the ethanol industry has grown to support over 339,000 U.S. jobs and driven $41 billion in economic activity by supporting corn and soy markets and reducing gasoline prices. Tuesday, Finkenauersubmittedthe letterto the Energy & Commerce Committee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-crawford-introduce-bill-help-new-and-beginning-farmers,"Finkenauer, Crawford Introduce Bill to Help New and Beginning Farmers",2019-10-28,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01) and Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) introduced the Farmers' Access to Resources and Machinery (FARM) Act. The legislation builds on the success of the state-level Aggie Bond program and makes common-sense improvements that will increase beginning farmers' access to the financing they need. Specifically, the bill will increase the amount of financing that can be used towards farm improvements and equipment. It also updates the eligibility requirements for the program to make them more consistent with the standards used by US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. In order to ensure our farming heritage stays alive, we need to encourage our younger generation to carry on the tradition and make sure we're setting them up for success, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, Farmers are already dealing with expensive production costs and low prices, which are being made significantly worse by the ongoing trade war with China, so we need to knock down the barriers where we can. I'm grateful that my colleagues across the aisle are joining me to help ensure Iowa's young farmers have access to money that can help them get their start. Congressman Crawford said, Our farmers are critical to our national security, ensuring our nation can feed and clothe itself. Unfortunately, the American farmer is slowly becoming an endangered species, with the average producer age at 57.5 years. Aggie Bonds will enable young farmers to access needed financing, giving them a chance to build their own businesses and participate in the one of the world's oldest and most important vocations. Agriculture is the backbone of rural America and I will continue working to strengthenthis industry and ensure its longevity. The bipartisan FARM Act is supported by the National Young Farmers Coalition, Iowa Pork Producers, and Iowa Soybean Association. Land access and affordability are consistently ranked as among the top challenges for young farmers and ranchers, and aggie bonds are an important tool in providing workable financing options for land purchases, said Sophie Ackoff, National Young Farmers Coalition Co-Executive Director. We applaud Representatives Finkenauer and Crawford for introducing the FARM Act to expand access to bond-funded loans and for their support of beginning farmers and ranchers. The bipartisan FARM Act's original cosponsors are: Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Rep Steve Watkins (KS-02), and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01). Background on the Coauthors: Congresswoman Finkenauer is the chairwoman of the Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship subcommittee. Introduction of the FARM Act is also part of Finkenauer's Fighting for Iowa's Farmers & Rural Way of Life plan, where Support New and Beginning Farmers is one of the plan's key pillars.This summer, the Congresswoman brought Jason Grimm, a specialty crop farmer from Williamsburg, Iowa, to Congress to share his story about the unique challenges he faces as a young farmer. He highlighted the difficulties that he faces accessing land and capital, as well as the burden of his student loan debt. Congressman Crawford is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He also served as a conferee during both the 2014 and 2018 FarmBills. As a representative for the nation's largest rice producing district, he is familiar with the financial struggles a farmer faces. Congressman Crawford is an advocate for farmers and has played a role in financing programs for farmers such asthe Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program, and creating the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-presses-answers-decorah-social-security-office,Finkenauer Presses for Answers on Decorah Social Security Office,2019-10-25,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Andrew Saul, to push for answers on the future of the Decorah, IA Social Security office. In August, members of the community learned that the Social Security Administration might close the Decorah field office and explore ways to offer to services remotely through videoconferencing. If the Social Security Administration moves forward with this approach, beneficiaries may no longer be able to have an in-person meeting with trained staff in Decorah, Iowa. After hearing from community members worried about the closure, Rep. Finkenauer decided to write to the Social Security Administration to express these concerns and get the facts for Social Security beneficiaries in Northeast Iowa. I not only ask that you provide additional information on the circumstances surrounding the closure but urge you to consider ways to ensure that the in-person services provided at this field office remain available in Northeast Iowa Finkenauer wrote to Saul, Social Security is a promise to the American people and part of that means ensuring that these critical services remain available to those who need them. The Decorah office serves beneficiaries from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, many of whom drive hours to for an in-person meeting with trained staff, as opposed to handling claims or appeals online. Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski said, While changing the service model at our local Social Security office may seem inconsequential on paper, it will have a deep impact on people in our community, and those who travel to our community, who rely on the office. I want to thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for calling attention to this issue and for pushing the federal government to act in the best interest of her constituents. I'm hoping this leads to the Social Security Administration committing to keep the Decorah office staffed so we can ease the anxiety many of our beneficiaries are feeling over potential changes. Congresswoman Finkenauer represents Iowa's First Congressional District, which includes Decorah and parts of the surrounding area, which is served by the Social Security field office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-chairs-field-hearing-gettysburg-pa-rural-broadband-access,"Finkenauer Chairs Field Hearing in Gettysburg, PA on Rural Broadband Access",2019-10-22,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Monday, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)chaired a Rural, Agricultural, Trade and Entrepreneurial (RATE) subcommittee hearing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to hear how a lack of access to reliable and affordable broadband impacts rural communities. The hearing was held in Ranking Member John Joyce's (PA-13) district. Field hearings play an important role in the work of our Committee. Traveling to Washington, DC and testifying before Congress can be hard for a lot of people, Finkenauer said, Congressman Joyce's district and my district share some similar challenges when it comes to deploying broadband in rural areas. Today's hearing reaffirmed what we already knew, a lack of access to high-speed broadband in rural America is hurting people regardless of the state they live in and the party they support. I'm happy the Congressman Joyce is committed to working on this bipartisan issue, and together, we can keep moving closer to a solution. Finkenauer serves on the Rural Broadband Taskforce and has introduced the Broadband Transparency and Accountability Act to address the digital divide through improved broadband mapping. Currently, inaccurate data on broadband services restricts competition and inflates prices in many rural areas, preventing the communities that need it most from accessing broadband. In the 21st century, access to technology is synonymous with success. In Pennsylvania, more than 800,000 people live without reliable access to the internet, said Congressman Joyce. Today's hearing was an important opportunity for Pennsylvanians to share their firsthand challenges to access rural broadband. This issue connects Americans in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and throughout our nation. As the Republican Leader of a subcommittee addressing rural development, I am committed to working alongside Chairwoman Finkenauer to develop bipartisan solutions that will never allow rural communities to fall behind."" Local leaders and stakeholders testified during the hearing and explained how a lack of broadband internet coverage hurts rural residents and business owners. According to a 2018 Pew Research survey, more than 50% or rural residents believe access to high-speed broadband internet is a problem. This summer, Finkenauer invited Iowan Dan Stelpflug to testify at the RATE subcommittee to ensure Congress is hearing directly from Iowans who are impacted by a lack of high-speed broadband coverage. She also hosted Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in Dyersville and Cedar Rapids to discuss the need to expand broadband access in Eastern Iowa.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-engagement,Finkenauer Announces Engagement,2019-10-21,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC The Office of Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) is pleased to announce the engagement of the Congresswoman to Mr. Daniel Wasta of Cedar Rapids, IA. The engagement occurred on Saturday, October 19, 2019 in Cedar Rapids, IA, with the wedding date forthcoming. The couple has been together for nearly two years and are excited to build their life and home together in Iowa where Rep. Finkenauer and Mr. Wasta both grew up and where their families still reside.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-passing-congressman-elijah-cummings,Finkenauer Statement on Passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings,2019-10-17,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings: Congress feels emptier today without Congressman Elijah Cummings. His leadership in handling some of Congress' heaviest responsibilities, his passion for serving his district, and his voice on fighting for equality are things we should all aspire to match. My heart is with his wife, Maya, and their children.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397326,Loebsack Statement on the EPAs Supplemental SRE Rule,2019-10-15,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new supplemental proposed rule to account for gallons waived through Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) in the nation's biofuel mandate.It is outrageous that not even two weeks after the President and the EPA announced a deal' to offset the excessive number of SREs they granted to big, profitable oil companies, they fall back on their word. This proposed rule provides no assurance that the estimates used to offset the SREs would meet the actual volume of gallons exempted, leaving farmers and biofuel producers with no guarantee that the billions of gallons of biofuels exempted from the mandate would ever be restored, as has long been promised by the Trump Administration and EPA.The Administration's abuse of the SRE program has already destroyed billions of gallons of biofuel demand and led to the closure or idling of nearly 30 ethanol and biodiesel plants. This proposed rule is another in a long string of broken promises for our farmers and biofuel producers. I will continue to fight back against proposals that fall short of what was promised, and work to uphold the integrity of the RFS. It is past time our farmers and biofuel producers have the certainty they need to help provide our nation with clean, renewable fuel. BACKGROUND Representative Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of the RFS, ethanol and the biofuels industry. He has been leading the way in the House to increase oversight and transparency of the Small Refinery Exemption that the Administration has used to undermine the RFS, hurting our farmers and rural communities, while propping up Big Oil. As co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, Loebsack helped lead the opposition of the excessive use of the SRE, including this August when the President and EPA granted 31 new waivers. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Loebsack has continually pushed the EPA to be more transparent and called for the suspension of the program until changes were made.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-epas-broken-promise,Axne on the EPA's Broken Promise,2019-10-15,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) released the following statement on today's Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement undermining the Administration's October 4thpromise to restore integrity' to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): This is insulting, deeply disappointing, but unfortunately, not surprising. Time and time again, this Administration comes to Iowa and pledges their support for farmers, only to go back to Washington to give hand-outs to big oil lobbyists at the expense of hardworking Iowa families and rural communities, said Rep. Axne. Let's be clear: the EPA answers to the President, not the other way around. Enough fancy press conferences and broken promises, Iowa farmers deserve action from this Administration. Today, I'm calling on the President to stand by his word and publicly demand the EPA put forth a new rule that ensures 15 billion gallons means 15 billion, said Rep. Axne. On October 4th, the Administration announced they would restore integrity' to the Renewable Fuel Standard by reallocating for all gallons lost due to biofuel waivers. The EPA today announced they would reallocate waived gallons based on recommendations made by the Department of Energy (DOE), which the EPA has consistently ignored. This bait and switch will significantly reduce market demand for ethanol and further risk the livelihood of Iowa farmers and producers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-epas-supplemental-proposal-renewable-fuels-volumes,Finkenauer Statement on EPA's Supplemental Proposal for Renewable Fuels Volumes,2019-10-15,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) announcement: Iowa's farmers and producers have been promised over and over that this administration will uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard. Just as many times, they've been let down by an administration that plays favorites with big oil. As the nation's corn growers have said, this announcement does not provide confidence that the EPA and Trump administration will follow through on promises to uphold the RFS. I will continue to fight for Iowa's growers and producers, especially as this administration keeps promising one thing and doing another.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-hosts-prescription-drug-listening-session,Finkenauer Hosts Prescription Drug Listening Session,2019-10-09,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) held a listening session in Dubuque to hear how prescription drug prices are affecting constituents in Iowa's First Congressional District. Finkenauer hosted the event at Carnegie Stout Library with invited guests and shared how she is working with Democrats and Republicans on legislation to drive down the cost of prescription drugs. Participants included Mickey King from Dubuque and Heidi Lilibridge from Benton. Mickey King said, Lowering prescription costs is important to us as we are preparing our daughter for the transition to adulthood. We want to ensure that she will be able to afford insulin in order to live and have a family. By participating in this roundtable, we hope to have our voice heard and for people to understand the impact and concerns with prescription costs and insurance. ""Thanks to Congresswoman Finkenauer for bringing this important issue of lowering prescription drug costs from individual families, like mine, to a national level. I appreciate her work across party lines to make this a priority, said Heidi Lillibridge. Lowering prescription drug costs is important to my family and me. Many people already have to decide between prescription drugs and food on their table. I don't want to have to make that decision."" Lowering the cost of prescription drugs for Iowans and Americans is one of my top priorities, Congresswoman Finenauer said, The stories we heard today show that our work to ease the unfair burden of high drug prices is far from done. I will keep working with anybody who is serious about common sense solutions. Iowans and Americans should not be forced to make the impossible choice between healthcare and quality of life. During the listening session, Finkenauer also heard feedback on the recently introduced drug pricing reform legislation, The Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3). The legislation aims to make prescription drugs cheaper by allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies and making those negotiated lower prices available to all Americans, including those with private insurance. Finkenauer also announced the Real Experience (Rx) Initiative, a new online tool for Iowans in the First Congressional District to share how prescription drug prices are impacting them. An online form will be available for constituents to share their stories with the office. A link to that form is available here. Elevating voices of people in our district is one of the most important parts of my role, Finkenauer said, Offering this opportunity for folks in our district to easily share their stories with me will help as I continue to stand up and fight for the hard-working people in our communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-pushes-iowa-priorities-during-visit-house-transportation,Finkenauer Pushes Iowa Priorities during Visit from House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman,2019-10-07,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) hosted House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) in Iowa's First Congressional District. Finkenauer and DeFazio toured infrastructure in Buchanan County and heard from Iowans about the challenges they face while maintaining rural roads and bridges. Finkenauer and DeFazio heard from Buchanan County Engineer Brian Keierleber, then were led on a tour of two bridges in the county which were formerly deemed structurally deficient and improved under Keierleber's leadership while using non-traditional methods. The first, a bride on Lee Avenue in Independence which is made from a railroad car, and the Cedar Rock Bridge which is made from Gruen-Wald Engineered Laminate. Here in Buchanan County we're working to improve our structurally deficient bridges and ensure Iowans have safe infrastructure, said Buchanan County (IA) Engineer Brian Keierleber. I am happy Congresswoman Finkenauer invited the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to our community to see the challenges we're facing, and to see the creative methods we're using to try and address them. Still, we have a lot more work to do and these projects are expensive. I appreciate the congresswoman's efforts to raise awareness of the needs of communities like ours and the needs of local roads across the country. Finkenauer and DeFazio also heard from Iowa labor leaders during a roundtable discussion in Cedar Rapids. During the discussion, the Finkenauer and DeFazio heard about how federal fund-swapping could impact infrastructure projects and the need to expand skilled union apprenticeships and good-paying American jobs. Finkenauer recently called for an investigation into federal fund swapping practices. Monday's tour and roundtable discussion are key in ensuring Iowa's critical infrastructure needs and unique challenges are incorporated in Congress' upcoming work on a Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, along with Chairman DeFazio and Rep. Finkenauer, will play an important role in crafting the next transportation bill. Rebuilding Iowa's infrastructure is one of my top priorities. I am working to make sure a House Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill includes common sense solutions to achieve that goal for Iowans in our district, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, Today, Chairman DeFazio saw first-hand how some of our engineers are forced to get take extreme measures just to ensure Iowans have safe bridges and roads. Our tour today is just one example of how desperately our communities need help. I was glad to join Representative Finkenauer in her home district to tour and learn about local labor and transportation needs, said Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR). We had the opportunity to meet with local engineers, plumbers, pipefitters and more to discuss the challenges and opportunities they face. Representative Finkenauer's commitment to men and women working in the transportation industry is just another reason I am glad to have her as a colleague on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Congresswoman Finkenauer is a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and in that role, she continues to elevate the voices of those in Iowa's First Congressional District. Finkenauer recently championed the bipartisan Fixing America's Bridges Act and authored the Rural Road Safety Act with fellow committee member Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-administrations-rfs-announcement,Finkenauer Statement on Administration's RFS Announcement,2019-10-04,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the Trump administration's announcement regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): This is an important first step towards undoing some of the damage and chaos that the President has created for Iowa farmers and producers. I'm glad that the administration is finally stepping up to the plate, but three years of attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard has hurt our farmers, shut down plants, and killed good-paying jobs. There's still work to be done to make sure that Iowa farmers and producers get the relief they need, and I promise to keep up the pressure to make sure Washington follows through on delivering relief and making things right for the hard-working families in our district.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-sen-klobuchar-urge-usda-conduct-economic-impact-report-epa-biofuel,"Rep. Axne, Sen. Klobuchar Urge USDA to Conduct Economic Impact Report on EPA Biofuel",2019-10-03,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conduct a study on the economic impact of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) abuse of biofuel waivers. In light of recent comments made by the EPA that there is zero evidence biofuel waivers are hurting our ethanol industry, Klobuchar and Axne requested the USDA specifically research and report on the impact these waivers are having on farm income, commodity prices and renewable fuel usage. The Members sent the letter ahead of a roundtable discussion, hosted by Rep. Axne and Sen. Klobuchar at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy this morning, to hear directly from farmers, producers and plant workers. Ethanol plants in states including Minnesota and Iowa have recently announced that they would temporarily close or reduce production, which has cost 2,500 rural jobs and impacted demand for more than 225 million bushels of corn, Klobuchar and Axne wrote. We strongly disagree and believe that a study from USDA on the impact to farm income, commodity prices, and renewable fuel usage for the small refinery waivers granted by the EPA will help inform the decision making process when the EPA evaluates future waiver petitions, the Members added. In the letter sent to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, the Members expressed concerns that the EPA continues to misuse small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the detriment of farmers and rural communities. The Trump Administration recently approved 31 SREs, or so-called hardship waivers, which are intended to help small refineries by exempting them from the RFS. However, the EPA has issued dozens of waivers, including for some of the most profitable oil companies in the world, resulting in lost jobs in rural communities and lost markets for farmers at a time when they are already struggling with low commodity prices and ongoing trade disputes. Under the Trump Administration, 85 SREs have been approved, contributing to a reduction in the use of over 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel. The full text of the letter is available here and below: October 3, 2019 Dear Secretary Perdue: We write to express our ongoing concerns that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to misuse small refinery hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the detriment of farmers and rural communities. Farmers and rural communities are struggling with low prices, unstable weather conditions, and uncertainty with export markets. To help ensure that future waivers do not add to these challenges, we respectfully ask the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on the impact of the 85 small refinery waivers issued by EPA for 2016, 2017, and 2018 on farm income, commodity prices, and renewable fuel usage. In August 2019, the EPA granted another 31 small refinery waivers, bringing the total number of waivers issued under the Trump Administration to 85. These waivers have reduced demand for over 4 billion gallons of biofuels. Every waiver granted negatively impacts the rural economy. Ethanol plants in states including Minnesota and Iowa have recently announced that they would temporarily close or reduce production, which has cost 2,500 rural jobs and impacted demand for more than 225 million bushels of corn. In light of these deeply troubling trends, we are extremely concerned by an EPA spokesperson's recent statement that, There is zero evidence that EPA's congressional mandated small refinery exemption programhas had any negative impact on domestic corn ethanol producers. We strongly disagree and believe that a study from USDA on the impact to farm income, commodity prices, and renewable fuel usage for the small refinery waivers granted by the EPA will help inform the decision making process when the EPA evaluates future waiver petitions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397325,Loebsack Statement on the EPA Halting Work on Potential Biofuels Deal,2019-10-01,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after reports surfaced that said President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have halted work on drafting a deal with the biofuels industry.Once again, President Trump and the EPA have sided with Big Oil at the expense of America's farmers, who are already hurting from this administration's actions to sabotage the RFS by issuing an excessive number of Small Refinery Exemptions. If true, this report is a slap in the face to the farmers and rural communities who rely on a strong RFS to thrive. It is unacceptable that we are in this position in the first place, but we cannot allow President Trump and the EPA to run the biofuels industry into the ground while continuing to prop up Big Oil.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-introduces-bipartisan-fixing-america-s-bridges-act,Finkenauer Introduces Bipartisan Fixing America’s Bridges Act,2019-10-01,2019,2019-10,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01) and Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA-03) introduced the bipartisan Fixing America's Bridges Act. The bill reestablishes a federal funding program to help repair and replace structurally deficient local bridges, many of which are owned by municipalities that have trouble affording necessary maintenance. Iowa is home to more structurally deficient bridges than any other state with 5,067, which is nearly 20% of all Iowan bridges. Most of those are locally-owned and don't receive the same federal funding that goes to bridges that are part of the federal highway system. Having visited many of our local structurally deficient bridges, I know first-hand how big of an impact we can make by securing much-needed help for our communities,Congresswoman Finkenauer said.Our local engineers and communities are sending us a clear message they need help, and we can do that while making our infrastructure safer and supporting good paying American jobs. I thank Congressman Higgins for partnering with me as we deliver critical aid to our communities that desperately need their bridges to be fixed. Investing in safe and reliable infrastructure promotes economic growth and benefits our communities. This certainly includes America's bridges,said Congressman Higgins.Our legislation expands federal infrastructure resources and prioritizes bridge replacement based on structural integrity. Reestablishing the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program would greatly benefit many bridges in Louisiana, including the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. I want to thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for leading this bipartisan effort. The Fixing America's Bridges Act would reestablish the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. The program would award federal grant money to states to repair or replace bridges that are found to be in poor condition by the Federal Highway Administration. The bill includes a set-aside to ensure communities get funding for their locally-owned bridges that are off the federal-aid highway system; it would also increase the federal cost-share for local bridges from 80% to 90% so communities can act quickly to make much-needed repairs to their structurally deficient bridges. The Fixing America's Bridges Act is supported by the National Association of Counties, National Association of County Engineers, North America's Building Trades Unions, and Soy Transportation Coalition. Support for the Fixing America's Bridges Act: Here in Buchanan County, we have over a dozen bridges that we need to repair or replacebut money is tight, and we can't afford to complete all of these critical projects without federal support,said Buchanan County Engineer Brian Keierleber.I appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer's work to help Iowa's rural communities get federal funding to fix our structurally deficient bridges, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure everyone in our county can get around safely. When Congresswoman Finkenauer came to Waterloo in March, we walked across the Park Avenue and 11th Street bridges, both of which are embargoed for weight and desperately need to be replaced,said Waterloo City Engineer Jamie Knutson.The Fixing America's Bridges Act will help cities like Waterloo get federal funding to repair and replace our local bridges, and I applaud the Congresswoman's efforts to help our city make these critical investments. I am in full support of federal funding to assist communities in bridge rehabilitation or replacement,said Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart.Waterloo has many bridges in and around the city that were built long ago and are in need of repair or replacement. There are a couple of bridges locally that are ranked in the top 100 worst bridges in the state. Without federal support these changes will not be realized in our local communities. Our citizens rely on these bridges to live their daily lives. As Iowa's second largest city and one of the driving economic engines of the state, it is critical that we maintain our existing infrastructure. The Fixing America's Bridges Act would provide critical investment for repairing and replacing a transportation network relied upon by thousands,said Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart.We strongly support Congresswoman Finkenauer's bill, which will improve the safety of our bridges and provide funding for the replacement, rehabilitation, and maintenance of these critical transportation networks. ""Counties maintain nearly 40% of the nation's bridge inventory, and the nation's County Engineers are tasked with ensuring the safety of this vital transportation infrastructure every day,""said National Association of County Engineers Executive Director Kevan Stone.Millions of Americans depend on bridges to bring them to work and school each day while also bringing goods to market, and Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Higgins realize the challenges and costs faced to maintain them. We commend their efforts to bring additional resources to keep them in a state of good repair through the reinstatement of the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. Counties own and operate four out of every 10 bridges, connecting people and places and helping communities across America thrive,said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase.To address the bridge maintenance backlog, we need reliable federal and state partners. Increasing investments in locally owned bridges and reducing the local match requirement will give counties additional resources to strengthen our nation's transportation network. We thank Representatives Finkenauer and Higgins for their efforts to address this important infrastructure issue. The temptation is for our nation to concentrate attention and resources toward the transportation needs of urban America at the expense of the needs of rural America. We must be attentive to both,said Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.We commend Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and Congressman Clay Higgins for introducing bipartisan legislation that will provide tangible benefit to our nation's farmers and other rural residents who depend upon a safe, reliable, and accessible transportation system.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-introduces-legislation-protect-against-african-swine-fever,Axne Introduces Legislation to Protect Against African Swine Fever,2019-09-25,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Cindy Axne (IA-D) joined Reps. Filemon Vela (TX-34) and Collin Peterson (MN-7), chair of the House Agriculture Committee, in introducing the Protecting America's Food & Agricultural Act, legislation that would authorize U.S. Customs and Border protection (CBP) to hire more agriculture specialists in order to prevent an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the United States. While harmless to humans, ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease with no vaccine that affects hogs and would be devastating to Iowa's pork industry. Iowa leads the nation in pork production, raising nearly one-third of U.S. hogs. An outbreak here at home would be devastating to Iowa's pork industry, which is an economic driver and job creator across the state, said Congresswoman Axne. Our producers have taken steps to minimize risk wherever possible, but we need to ensure CBP has the resources they need to effectively prevent the introduction of this infectious disease in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and CBP work together to facilitate the safe and secure entry of agricultural goods into the country. According to the USDA, the U.S. imported $127.56 billion worth of agricultural products in FY2018. CBP Agriculture Specialists work to prevent introduction of harmful pests and animal diseases into the U.S. They intercept tens of thousands of harmful products each year but there are staff shortages. This legislation would allow CBP to hire 240 Agriculture Specialists per year until the shortages are filled so harmful diseases, such as ASF, will not slip through the cracks. Recent reports highlight that as many as half of China's breeding pigs have died or been slaughtered due to African swine fever. Ongoing outbreaks of ASF have also been reported in Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Africa. Last week, South Korea also confirmed they had their first outbreak of Swine Fever. Veterinary experts believe this may be the most serious animal health disease the world has seen. The Iowa Pork Producers Association strongly supports funding for additional agriculture inspectors to screen for foreign animal diseases at our ports of entries, said Dennis Liljedahl, a Iowa pork producer, and member of the Iowa Pork Producers Association Board of Directors. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has indicated that an additional 600 agriculture inspectors are needed, and we see this as a vital action to help protect U.S. pork producers from the continuous spread of African swine fever, as well as other foreign animal diseases that threaten animal health in the U.S. We are grateful for the efforts of Rep. Axne for bringing this legislation forward. In July, Rep. Axne and Rep. James Baird (R-IN-04) urged U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize agricultural inspections to prevent an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) among domestic swine herds. In a bipartisan letter sent to Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, the Representatives called attention to the rapid spread of ASF in Europe and Asia and highlighted the threat the disease poses to American hogs and our pork industry.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397324,Loebsack Statement on Recent Developments in the Whistle Blower Case Against President Trump,2019-09-24,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after recent developments in the whistle blower case regarding President Trump.I have felt the need to proceed judiciously given the high constitutional requirements of impeachment, but President Trump's actions and obstruction require this step of establishing an impeachment inquiry. It is unfortunate that we have ended up at this point. The American people deserve the full truth and it has reached the point where there is no other way to get the necessary information and an impeachment inquiry is justified.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-whistle-blower-complaint,Rep. Axne on Whistle Blower Complaint,2019-09-24,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) released the following statement in response to the recently revealed whistle blower complaint made against President Trump: When I was sworn into office, I took an oath under God to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Using the Oval Office to pressure a foreign leader to investigate a political opponent is a clear abuse of power. Beyond an abuse of power, allegations that the President threatened to leverage U.S. taxpayer dollars to extort a foreign government, if true, constitute an unequivocal violation of our federal laws and the U.S. Constitution I swore to defend. For the sake of our national security and our democracy, these serious allegations require independent Congressional investigation unobstructed by this Administration. Congress has a responsibility to uphold the rule of law and to take appropriate steps to open an impeachment inquiry. If the President, as he has said, has nothing to hide, then he shouldallow the whistle blower to provide the full complaint to House and Senate Intelligence Committees.I look forward to reviewing the full transcript of the President's call tomorrow and hearing from the Acting Director of National Intelligence later this week, where I expect him to provide all relevant information so Congress can make an informed decision.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-house-impeachment-inquiry,Finkenauer Statement on House Impeachment Inquiry,2019-09-24,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement on the House's impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump: I have always supported Congress and our House committees in defending our democracy and Constitution. The impeachment inquiry requested today is needed to continue that work. It's imperative we stand up for our country and hold those accountable who hurt our democracy. Whether Republican or Democrat, there's no question that a president who threatens a foreign leader and our national security for their own personal gain, and uses taxpayer dollarsto do it, is not upholding their constitutional responsibilities. While the appropriate committees do their work, I will not be distracted from my top priorities of continuing to uplift the needs of Iowans, as we've been doing from day one, focusing on common sense solutions to lower the cost of prescription drugs, bringing much needed investment to our crumbling infrastructure, and having the backs of our farmers left behind by an administration that values big oil over renewable fuels. We must stay focused and we must continue to do our jobs to move our country forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397323,Loebsack Statement on the Whistle Blower Complaint Regarding President Trump and Ukraine,2019-09-23,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today in response to the recently revealed whistle blower complaint that was made against President Trump after his apparent attempt to pressure Ukraine into investigating the son of former Vice President Biden by threatening to withhold military support.The allegations surrounding President Trump's call with Ukrainian officials, if proven correct, are game changing regarding the President's abuse of power. Making a call to pressure a foreign leader to dig up dirt on a potential political rival, while threatening to withhold military assistance, is unacceptable. If the President, as he has said, has nothing to hide, then he should immediately release the transcript of the call and the whistle blower's full complaint should be immediately conveyed to Congress as laid out in statute. It is imperative that Congress and the American people have all of the facts surrounding the President's call. The rule of law requires no less.The President and his administration continue to stonewall any investigations, including refusing to release the full Mueller report on Russia's interference in our elections. I look forward to hearing from the Director of National Intelligence later this week. I remain hopeful he will provide all relevant information in order for Congress to make an informed decision.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-applauds-house-passage-forced-arbitration-act,Axne Applauds House Passage of Forced Arbitration Act,2019-09-23,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) applauded House passage of the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (the FAIR Act), legislation that prohibits the enforcement of mandatory, arbitration (forced arbitration) provisions in contracts that force employees or customers to waive their right to sue. This legislation, which Rep. Axne is a co-sponsor of, would restore access to justice for thousands of Iowans who are currently locked out of the court system and are forced to settle their disputes against companies in a private system of arbitration that often favors the company over the individual. Forced arbitration clauses allow corporations to side step our judicial process in order to take advantage of hardworking Iowans, said Rep. Axne. This secretive process strips away workers basic judicial rights and shields corporations from accountability when they harm or defraud people. These clauses which are often buried in contracts can quite literally give corporations the ability to play the role of the judge, the jury, and the law in resolving a dispute. This bill will end the legal nightmare of forced arbitration and restore access to justice for hardworking Iowans. I'm pleased to see the House of Representatives act on this legislation. In February 2018, I joined a bipartisan group of 56 state and territorial attorneys general to urge Congress to oppose mandatory arbitration for sexual harassment claims, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. Access to the judicial system is a fundamental right of all Americans. These arbitration requirements often are buried in employment contracts. As a result, many employees will not even recognize that they are bound by them until they attempt to seek justice. For millions of consumers and employees, the pre-condition whether or not they are aware of obtaining a basic service or product, such as a bank account, a cell phone, a credit card, or even a job, is that they must agree to resolve any disputes in private arbitration. These clauses are designed to favor corporations and disfavor workers and consumers. Private arbitration has been transformed from a voluntary forum for companies to resolve commercial disputes into a legal nightmare for millions of consumers who are denied basic judicial rights. Additionally, because the arbitration proceedings are secret, companies are able to hide misconduct from the public. Over the last several years, companies' use of forced arbitration clauses has increased dramatically.An Economic Policy Institute study found that since the early 2000s, the share of workers subject to mandatory arbitration has more than doubled and now exceeds 55 percent. In 41 Iowa consumer cases claiming $1.8 million, only three consumers won anything: a total of $25,000, which equates to a meager 1.4%. The FAIR Act would restore the private arbitration system to the original intent of the 1925 Federal Arbitration Act providing it as a voluntary, alternative process for resolving disputes, primarily for those with relatively equal bargaining power. The legislation does not preclude parties from agreeing to arbitrate a claim after a dispute arises, ensuring arbitration agreements will become truly voluntary and transparent. ""This bill would put an end to a rigged system that prevents Americans from seeking justice, a system that eliminates accountability for corporations if they rip you off. Under forced arbitration, if you have a dispute with a corporation, they pick the arbitrator, who decides the outcome of your case, Brad Lint, Executive Director, Iowa Association for Justice. In supporting the FAIR Act, Rep. Axne voted to restore your rights. She sided with you."" Having served as Iowa's chief regulator of nursing homes for nearly a decade, I learned first-hand the adverse consequences to Iowa's seniors of their having signed pre-dispute mandatory arbitration agreements before they moved into their new homes. Signing these agreements means that nursing home residents and family members give up their right to go to court over anything and everything, including neglect, abuse and fraud, Dean Lerner, former Iowa assistant attorney general and former director of the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals. Perhaps worst of all, arbitrations are private proceedings, keeping critical information about harmful events from the public.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-delegation-bipartisan-members-send-letter-epa-biofuel-waivers,"Iowa Delegation, Bipartisan Members Send Letter to EPA on Biofuel Waivers",2019-09-23,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Reps. Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) and more than 20 members of the bipartisan Congressional Biofuels Caucus sent a letter Friday urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler to address damage to the nation's biofuels industry from EPA's use of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs). In the letter, members outlined the damage caused by the SREs and called on EPA to ensure waived gallons are reallocated when setting Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). ""EPA's recently announced decision to grant 31 small refinery exemptions (SREs) continues to cast serious doubt on the agency's ability to administer the RFS consistent with Congressional intent, wrote the members in the letter. Since early 2018, EPA granted 85 blending exemptions to refineries which equals more than 4 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons of renewable fuel being taken out of the marketplace. These conditions have caused three ethanol facilities to close permanently and another fourteen to idle, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of corn bushels on an annual basis. The letter also details damage caused by the SREs to the biodiesel industry, including nearly $7.7 billion in economic losses and the closure of at least eight biodiesel facilities have shut down this year, representing 6,800 jobs and 215 million gallons of annual production. Joining Loebsack, Axne and Finkenauer on signing the letter include Chair of the House Agriculture Committee Colin Peterson (MN-7), Reps. Roger Marshall (KS-1), Daniel Davis (Il-7), Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), James Comer (R-Ky.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Steve King (R-Iowa), Steve Watkins (R-Kan.), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Jim Baird (R-Ind.), and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). A copy of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-federal-grant-hawkeye-community-college-commercial-truck,Finkenauer Announces Federal Grant for Hawkeye Community College Commercial Truck Driver Program Expansion,2019-09-20,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced Hawkeye Community College will receive a $109,511 federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant. The grant program aims to increase the number of commercial driver's license (CDL) holders who receive enhanced operator safety training, and to help current and former military members and their spouses and children to transition into commercial motor vehicles operating careers. I'm excited Hawkeye Community College will receive this funding to continue developing the truck driver workforce in Iowa while also helping out our military families, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, This is the third year Hawkeye has received this grant and I'm happy that it will help the college's program continue. Dr. Todd Holcomb, president of Hawkeye Community College, said, ""Hawkeye Community College is excited about the opportunity this federal grantprovides to train our local veterans and help fill a driver shortage in a state with one ofthe lowest unemployment rates in the nation.Hawkeye will be able to expand our veteran services to serve 25 veterans and their spouse or children covering 100% of the program costs to obtain a commercial driver's license."" Programs like those at Hawkeye Community College can provide career opportunities to Iowans while growing the truck driver workforce. According to the American Trucking Association, there were 60,800 fewer than needed truck drivers on the road in 2018. The group also estimates 160,000 driver vacancies will go unfilled over the next decade.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/funding-bill-includes-rep-axnes-request-tariff-aid,Funding Bill Includes Rep. Axne's Request for Tariff Aid,2019-09-19,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Following her request to Leadership, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) today issued the following statement thanking House Democratic Leadership for including tariff aid funding in the continuing resolution (CR) the House is expected to vote on tonight. This trade aid is nothing short of a lifeline to farmers struggling to make ends meet because of an unnecessary trade war. I don't support this Administration's trade policies and I certainly don't support the unprecedented amount of biofuel waivers this Administration has granted to big oil companies, said Rep. Axne. But I will never allow Congress to use farmers as political pawns. I'm glad Leadership has added the necessary language to ensure USDA can continue to assist farmers hurting from retaliatory tariffs. The Market Facilitation Program (MFP) was created to provide support to farmers struggling due to the on-going trade war. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using its authority under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to borrow up to $30 billion from the U.S. Treasury to make these payments. Given that USDA is expected to reach the $30 billion cap this fall, Congressional action is required to continue making these payments on time. Last week, reports indicated that House Democrats were planning on blocking USDA from continuing these payments on time. On Monday, Rep. Axne broke with Democratic Leadership and urged House appropriators to include extensions for the commodity credit corporation (CCC) in the continuing resolution (CR) in order to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can continue Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments to struggling farmers. Last night, the CR bill was introduced with Rep. Axne's request.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/axne-leads-freshman-democrats-protecting-americans-surprise-billing,Axne Leads Freshman Democrats in Protecting Americans from Surprise Billing,2019-09-18,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) led a group of freshman Democrats, including U.S. Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Susie Lee (NV-03), Susan Wild (PA-7), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Xochitl Torres Small (NM-2) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), in introducing legislation to protect Americans from surprise bills due to out-of-date insurance directories. The UPDATE Act requires insurance companies to regularly update their provider directories to prevent patients from unknowingly receiving out-of-network care. Patients should be able to trust that when their insurance company tells them a provider is in network, they won't get hit with a surprise out-of-network bill, said Rep. Axne. Middle-class families can't afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills because an insurance company didn't update their website. This common-sense legislation puts the onus on insurance companies to ensure patients are making medical decisions based on accurate information. Patients consult with insurance provider directories to confirm which doctors and services are in-network. Currently, insurance companies are not legally required to update their directories with accurate network information. As a result, patients across the country receive what they believe to be in-network care, only to be surprised with exorbitant out-of-network bills. The UPDATE Act will require insurance companies to check with a provider if they have not received a bill from them in the last six months in order to identify if that provider has gone out of network. If a provider has gone out of network, the legislation requires the insurance companies to update their directory information. No American should suffer a surprise medical bill, yet far too often patients are left with a surprise bill because a care provider may have been out of network. This can occur even when a patient has contacted their insurance company beforehand exactly to avoid a surprise bill as insurance plans often have outdated records, said Rep. Mucarsel-Powell. Today, 40 percent of Americans would struggle to cover a $400 emergency expense, and this legislation will make sure insurance companies are updating their directories and providing beneficiaries with accurate information, so patients aren't hit with a crippling surprise bill. Health care in this country is already expensive enough, and for any person to receive a surprise bill from a provider that they were led to believe is in their network is a burden that no American deserves, said Rep. Susie Lee. This is an issue that Democrats and Republicans should agree needs to be fixed. I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Axne as I continue to fight to give every southern Nevadan and every American access to affordable, quality health care. Too many middle-class families in Michigan are facing financial ruin from unexpected and expensive medical bills, said Rep. Stevens. The UPDATE Act will help protect families from surprise bills by preventing patients from being charged for out-of-network care due to out-of-date insurance directories. Insurance companies have an obligation to ensure their networks are up to date so that patients can make informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their families, without going bankrupt. I am fighting every day to drive down healthcare costs and improve access for Iowans, said Rep. Finkenauer. Iowans expect honesty, and this bill will help provide that when they choose their healthcare by helping ensure they aren't unknowingly going to providers that are out of their coverage network. I want to make sure Iowans don't get hit with a larger bill than they expected, and that is something all of Washington should be able to work on together. Seeking the healthcare you need shouldn't come with a price tag you weren't expecting. Surprise billing hurts the pocketbooks of hardworking families and part of the solution is addressing the inaccuracies consumers face when researching in-network providers. The UPDATE Act will help improve transparency of in or out-of-network status by requiring insurance companies to maintain their provider list as up-to-date as possible. By providing improved information to patients, families can better plan their upcoming medical costs and lessen the headache of an unexpected medical bill, Rep. Torres Small said. A recent study found that 10 percent of providers listed in insurance directories were either no longer in-network, or had never been in-network at all. Another recent study showed that surprise billing is on the rise, having increased from a 32% likelihood a patient would receive a surprise bill in 2010, to 43% in 2016. The average cost of surprise bills is on the rise as well, increasing from $804in 2010, to $2,040 in 2016.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-introduces-bipartisan-bill-keep-teachers-classroom,Finkenauer Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Keep Teachers in the Classroom,2019-09-18,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01), Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), and Congressman David B. McKinley P.E. (R-WV-1) announced introduction of the RETAIN Teachers Act, or the Reducing Extra Teaching Authentication Impacting New Teachers Act. The bill would help attract teachers and keep them in the classroom by streamlining burdensome paperwork requirements for programs designed to help teachers finance their education and repay student loans. TEACH Grants, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, Perkins Loan Cancellation for Teachers, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness help teachers afford the cost of college. After they graduate, new teachers must certify completion of service requirements to benefit from these programs. Unfortunately, these programs all have different paperwork, increasing burden for our educators. The RETAIN Teachers Act will require the Department of Education to study and recommend how to create a single electronic certification form for all these programs to streamline the process for teachers and let them focus on serving our students. From building lesson plans to grading papers, our hardworking teachers are already buried under piles of paper, Congresswoman Finkenauer said. Government should not add to the pile it should be easing the burden. I'm proud to partner with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reduce the extra authentication and let our teachers get back to teaching. Time and energy spent filling out burdensome paperwork is time and energy not spent on the reasons people become teachers in the first place, which is to nurture children, cultivate a passion for learning, and help students realize their full potential, said Congresswoman Wilson. This bipartisan legislation will not only help retain teachers, but also will attract gifted educators to the field, and I am happy to be an original co-sponsor. Teaching is one of the most noble and selfless professions, and educators are worthy of our support for the guidance they provide our country's kids on a daily basis, said Fitzpatrick. Outdated modes of service requirement certification do them a disservice, and I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation to ensure teachers can spend more of their time doing what they love while not being bogged down by bureaucratic paperwork. Teachers play a major role in shaping the lives of their students and building the next generation. They spend hours making sure that students are engaged in their lessons, McKinley said. That is why it is critical we help save them time, and remove burdensome barriers that can prevent them from being able to focus on doing their jobs: educating our children. The RETAIN Teachers Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, Iowa State Education Association, National Education Association, Rural School Advocates of Iowa, and Urban Education Network of Iowa. Support for the RETAIN Teachers Act: Superintendent Duane Willhite, North Fayette Valley, is on the Rural School Advocates of Iowa Leadership Group, which represents over 100 rural Iowa school districts. Superintendent Willhite said educator shortages are impacting rural Iowa.""It's very challenging to fill vacant positions or replace our retiring teachers, not just in the science and math areas, but across all areas, even in elementary. Our new teachers have a hefty workload and typically, lower pay, so anything which saves them time and makes it easier for them to access federal loan forgiveness programs will help."" Dr. Paul Gausman, Superintendent of Sioux City Schools, is chair of the Urban Education Network, representing 17 urban Iowa school districts, including Dubuque, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Linn-Mar, and College Community school districts in Congressional District 1. ""Our urban districts are continuing recruitment and grow-your-own programs in order to have teachers representative of our students, but many of our urban schools still struggle to fill educator positions,"" Dr. Gausman explained. ""This effort to streamline federal loan forgiveness program certification is welcome relief for our newest teachers, many of them carrying large amounts of college loan debt. We appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer's efforts to support our new teachers with the introduction of H.R. 4342."" ""Educators are under unprecedented stress, often working multiple jobs to make ends meet; trying to serve as social workers, mentors and teachers for their students; and struggling to pay back their own student loans, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. This legislation takes a critical step toward making the process easier for teachers to access grants, loan forgiveness and other lifelines that can reduce their debt burden and allow them to focus on the one job they want to do: educating our kids. Thanks to Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and David McKinley (R-W.Va.) for taking on this issue. Without a doubt, programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, and Teacher Loan Cancellation attract students to enter the education profession. Unfortunately, thousands of educators are unable to have their loans forgiven due to varying and convoluted certification requirements between different programs, said Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association.NEA is proud to support Rep. Finkenauer in aligning certification requirements between all programs, so teachers receive the loan forgiveness they deserve.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-urges-democratic-leadership-include-tariff-aid-funding-bill,Rep. Axne Urges Democratic Leadership to Include Tariff Aid in Funding Bill,2019-09-16,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) urged House Democratic Leadership to include extensions for the commodity credit corporation in the continuing resolution (CR) in order to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can continue Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments to struggling farmers. The Washington Post reported that House Democrats are attempting to block President Trump's farm bailout program in the CR that the House is expected to vote on later this week. On Friday, Rep. Axne tweeted her opposition to a CR that blocks the farm bailout program, stating, We cannot cut a lifeline to struggling farmers. I will not support a CR that doesn't include tariff aid. We need to fix this. In a letter sent today to Democratic leadership, Rep. Axne wrote, It is critical that Congress does not prevent the USDA from fulfilling its obligation to farmers. Partisan politics and political gamesmanship have no place at the table when generations of family farms are on the line. Background: The Market Facilitation Program (MFP) was created to provide support to farmers struggling due to the on-going trade war. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using its authority under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to borrow up to $30 billion from the U.S. Treasury to make these payments. Given that USDA is expected to reach the $30 billion cap this fall, Congressional action is required to continue making these payments on time. Full text of the letter is available below: September 16, 2019 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer, I am writing to express my opposition to a continuing resolution (CR) that blocks the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from issuing Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments. We cannot cut off this valuable lifeline to our farmers. Farmers in Iowa and across the country are struggling to make ends meet due to President Trump's increasingly dangerous trade war. This trade war has resulted in China halting more than $23 billion in agricultural purchases. Farmers are already suffering from low commodity prices, historic flooding, and now multiple trade wars. This administration has further harmed farmers by undermining the Renewable Fuel Standard through an unprecedented number of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs). Currently, the USDA has only issued a portion of the $14.5 billion in MFP payments that the agency announced was available. Preventing the USDA from finishing these payments will directly hurt America's farmers and agriculture sectors, leading to more uncertainty and possibly bankrupting family farms. It is critical that Congress does not prevent the USDA from fulfilling its obligation to farmers. Partisan politics and political gamesmanship have no place at the table when generations of family farms are on the line. I have spoken to farmers across my district who have told me one missed payment or another bad year will put them out of business. I cannot support this CR agreement if MFP payments would be prevented. I strongly urge you to include language in the upcoming CR to allow the USDA to continue issuing MFP payments. Sincerely, Cindy Axne Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-and-westerman-introduce-bipartisan-rural-road-safety-act,Finkenauer and Westerman Introduce Bipartisan Rural Road Safety Act,2019-09-16,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the Rural Road Safety Act, which would provide federal funding for communities to make critical safety improvements to their rural roads. A disproportionate number of traffic fatalities happen on America's rural roads. While carrying 30% of the county's traffic in 2017, 47.5% of fatalities happened on rural roads. That same year in Iowa, the state's rural roads accounted for: 56% of all fatal crashes 44% of fatal lane-departure crashes 65% of speed-related crashes 56% of crashes involving older drivers The data is clear: we can and must do more to make our rural roads safer for everyonewhether you're a driver, a state trooper on duty, or working to improve our roads, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, Congressman Westerman and I worked on this bill with the goal of saving lives. We looked at what previously worked, and we found that ensuring federal money gets invested into rural roads helped save lives. This bill is a return to what worked. Whenever I'm driving back in my district, I see the dangers of traveling on rural roads, Westerman said. This bipartisan bill will re-implement investments that worked in the past, with the ultimate goal of saving lives. Whether you are using a rural road for commuting, visiting friends or driving to the grocery store, these roads should be safe to drive on. As co-chair of the Road Safety Caucus, I'm glad to cosponsor this legislation with Rep. Finkenauer. The Rural Road Safety Act would ensure states are investing a portion of federal Highway Safety Improvement Program money into their high-risk rural roads by re-establishing a set-aside which existed from 2005 to 2012. After the set-aside was eliminated, rural road fatalities have declined at a far slower rate. The bill will also update the 2014 Rural Local and Tribal Roads Safety Toolkit to include new best practices for reducing fatalities on rural roads. This toolkit helps rural communities identify their safety needs and prioritize the safety projects that will work best for them. Most rural roads are locally owned, and counties often struggle with paying for the necessary safety improvements on those roads. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Finkenauer toured Buchanan County with County Engineer Brian Keierleber and Bremer County with County Engineer Landon Moore to learn how Iowa counties are using their limited funds to improve their infrastructure. Here in Buchanan County, we're doing everything we can to reduce traffic fatalitiesand it's working, but these projects can be expensive, said Buchanan County (IA) Engineer Brian Keierleber. The Rural Road Safety Act will help Iowa's rural counties get federal funding for critical road safety improvements, and I applaud Congresswoman Finkenauer for her efforts to keep all rural road users safe. When Congresswoman Finkenauer came to Bremer County last month, we talked about the importance of making sure everyone in the county can get around safely, said Bremer County Engineer Landon Moore. I appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer's focus on making sure rural communities like ours can get federal funding for our infrastructure projects, and I look forward to working with her to improve roadway safety in Northeast Iowa. Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Westerman are both members of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, where Congresswoman Finkenauer serves as Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. Westerman is the co-chair of the Road Safety Caucus. Support for the Rural Road Safety Act: The Rural Road Safety Act is supported by the AARP, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, American Traffic Safety Services Association, International Union of Operating Engineers, National Association of Counties, National Association of County Engineers, National Troopers Coalition, and North America's Building Trades Unions. On behalf of AARP and its over 38 million members, we would like to thank Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Westerman for their leadership in sponsoring the Rural Road Safety Act, said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at AARP. By dedicating funding and other resources for rural roads, the bill will help address the disproportionate number of traffic fatalities among older Americans living in rural communities. It is clear more must be done to reduce fatalities on rural roadways.We applaud Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Westerman for introducing legislation that will empower states by restoring funding dedicated to improving safety, said Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.Rural communities experience a disproportionate number of traffic deaths compared to the rest of the country, which is why this commonsense legislation is vitally important.Safer rural roads save lives. The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) commends Reps. Finkenauer and Westerman for highlighting the need to invest in roadway safety infrastructure projects on America's rural roads, said Nate Smith, Vice President of Government Relations at ATSSA. In 2016, more than 18,500 people were killed in rural areas, making the fatality rate on rural roads 2.5 times higher than on urban roads. We must address these roadway safety infrastructure challenges and significantly reduce roadway fatalities in rural America. Their legislation shines the spotlight on the need to do just that. With leadership from members of Congress like Reps. Finkenauer and Westerman, ATSSA members in Iowa, Arkansas, and across the nation can take the necessary steps to help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on U.S. roadways toward zero. The International Union of Operating Engineers proudly supports the Rural Road Safety Act, legislation designed to improve public safety on the transportation routes that connect rural American communities, said James T. Callahan, General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. We appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer's leadership on essential legislation to rebuild America's transportation infrastructure and look forward to working with her to enact this into law. ""The nation's County Engineers maintain our local roads to ensure public safety, transport goods to market and most importantly, bring our families home safely each day,"" said National Association of County Engineers Executive Director Kevan Stone. ""Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Westerman recognize the crucial importance of safe local roadways, and we commend their efforts to improve and enhance their safety through the High Risk Rural Roads program. We fully support their goal of making sure every county and rural community has the necessary life-saving tools to make these safety improvements a reality. ""Counties own and maintain 45 percent of America's roadways, and safety is always our top priority, said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. The High Risk Rural Roads program will provide counties with additional resources to ensure that even the most remote roads have appropriate safety measures in place. We applaud Congresswoman Finkenauer's and Congressman Westerman's efforts to invest in safeguards that will ultimately save lives. On behalf of the National Troopers Coalition, wecommend CongresswomanFinkenauer and Congressman Westermanfor their efforts to improve rural road safety, said AndrewMatthews, Executive Director of the National Troopers Coalition.Thirtypercent of all automobile traffic runs on the rural roads where people live,work and play. Importantly, one-third of heavy truck traffic runson rural roads. Our troopers and other law enforcementofficewho patrolthese roadscan attest to the added dangers on rural roads, and we support efforts like this to improve the safety of our highways. I want to commend Congresswoman Finkenauer for her leadership on the Rural Road Safety Act. This important bill will increase safety on rural roads, which are critical to the movement of goods and people across the entire nation, said Sean McGarvey, President, North America's Building Trades Unions. Furthermore, projects funded under this bill will not only make much needed infrastructure improvements, but with accompanying prevailing wage standards, will improve the financial trajectory of families and communities in rural America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-statement-anniversary-september-11th-terrorist-attacks,Finkenauer Statement on Anniversary of September 11th Terrorist Attacks,2019-09-11,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on the 18-year anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Somerset County, Pennsylvania: ""We will never forget those we lost on September 11th, 2001. Today, I join Iowans, Americans, and people all over the world in remembering each of the nearly 3,000 lives taken that day. We also remember and honor those who bravely risked their lives for others and our first responders. We will never forget, united we stand.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-axnes-affordable-rural-housing-bill,House Passes Axne's Affordable Rural Housing Bill,2019-09-10,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, praised unanimous House passage of legislation to protect and expand access to affordable rental housing options in rural communities. The Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Axne, will restructure an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural housing program in order to prevent the displacement of thousands of Americans in rural communities. We often hear about skyrocketing rents in metropolitan cities, but this housing crisis is impacting our rural communities just as hard. Housing options are simply unaffordable for many Iowans in rural communities, said Congresswoman Axne. Many Iowans in our rural communities rely on this USDA program in order to put a roof over their head. By preserving this program, this legislation will protect Iowans from displacement and expand access to affordable housing options in rural communities. USDA provides affordable rental housing options by making direct loans to developers to finance housing projects for low-income, elderly and disabled individuals in rural communities. As part of this program, USDA also provides Rental Assistance (RA) to tenants which caps their contribution at 30% of their income. However, as property owners pay off those loans in full, they are no longer required to offer affordable rental rates. Additionally, after the loan matures, tenants living in those properties are no longer eligible for USDA's Rental Assistance. In order to address these issues, the USDA created the Multifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) pilot program to restructure loans to extend the affordable use of these properties without displacing tenants and expand eligibility for Rental Assistance. The Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act will permanently authorize and provide $1 billion in funding for the MPR program, require USDA to come up with a plan to ensure the long-term preservation of rural housing options provided by USDA loans and establish an advisory committee to help USDA implement that plan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-invites-iowan-biodiesel-producer-hearing-clean-energy-jobs,Finkenauer Invites Iowan Biodiesel Producer to Hearing on Clean Energy Jobs,2019-09-10,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)led a hearing on growing the clean energy economy as Chairwoman of Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE).Finkenauer invited Iowan Tom Brooks to testify at the hearing, Brooks is the general manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel in Farley, Iowa. Brooks focused his testimony on the biodiesel tax credit, which expired at the end of 2017. Congresswoman Finkenauer has authored bipartisan legislation to reinstate the credit, which was included in a broader tax extenders package passed by the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year. I would like to emphasize that the biodiesel blender's tax incentive has helped achieve the desired goal of expanding domestic production of clean energy resources and jobs here at home,Tom Brooks said,In turn, the increased use of biodiesel has helped the United States realize economic and environmental benefits. These benefits, however, are in jeopardy without quick reinstatement of the biodiesel tax incentive and stable policy over the long term. I have been working hard on bipartisan legislation to renew the biodiesel tax credit.Congresswoman Finkenauer said,Iowa jobs are on the line and we must act now to extend these tax credits. While I am pleased that the Ways and Means Committee has marked up a package that includes a three-year extension of the tax credit, I call on House and Senate leadership to work together and extend the credit immediately. Iowa is a leader in the clean energy economy by producing more wind energy than any other state besides Texas, and by leading the nation in biofuel production. Congresswoman Finkenauer continues to support clean energy production in Iowa andstand up against policy decisionsthat undercut Iowa's successes. She also led an effort to extend the Second Generation Biofuels tax credit, and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property tax credit, both of which were included in the Ways and Means tax package. The purpose of the hearing was to hear from small businesses in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors to discuss opportunities for their businesses, the challenges they face, and what Congress can do to support them in driving the clean energy economy and creating jobs within their fields. Finkenauer worked with her Republican colleague and the subcommittee's Ranking Member, Rep. John Joyce (PA-13), to hold the hearing. Video of Congresswoman Finkenauer's and Tom Brooks' opening statements are available below. Congresswoman Finkenauer's opening statement: Tom Brooks' opening statement: Congresswoman Finkenauer questions Brooks:",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-seeks-info-army-corp-after-historic-flooding,Rep. Axne Seeks Info from Army Corp After Historic Flooding,2019-09-09,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) requested information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the steps taken to notify communities immediately prior, during and after the historic flooding that devastated communities across Southwest Iowa in March. In a letter sent to Colonel John Hudson, Commander and District Engineer, Rep. Axne requested a specific timeline of events in order to help ensure that Army Corp has the proper procedures in place to ensure the public receives timely information to mitigate damages in future natural disasters. Many of my constituents feel they did not receive adequate warnings and notice about the 2019 March flooding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I have heard from residents that were given evacuation notices with no time to collect their belongings or prepare, fleeing their houses without shoes or a change of clothes. I respectfully request a written response with a timeline on when the Army Corp became aware of the eminent and immediate danger our communities faced, and what steps the Army Corps took to alert communities, wrote Rep. Axne. Rep. Axne requested written responses to the following six questions: What actions did the Army Corps take to prepare for the flooding? What actions did the Army Corps take during and after the flooding? Please provide a detailed explanation of the decision-making process behind releasing reservoir waters, and each levee that was compromised. Please provide a timeline of when the Army Corps notified communities regarding the flooding, and who was the point of contact. What actions were taken by the Omaha District to notify, and communicate with, local officials and residents of affected areas about the Midwestern flooding before and during the flooding? What can Army Corps do to improve communication with the public about flooding of the Missouri River, or tributary waters, in Iowa or Nebraska, and do you have any recommendations for any changes to statutory authorizations necessary to improve such communication? Full text of the letter is available here and below: September, 09, 2019 Colonel John Hudson Commander and District Engineer Omaha District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dear Colonel Hudson, Following devastating flooding that hit Southwest Iowa and Nebraska in March 2019, families, businesses and farmers in my district are continuing the long road to recovery. This disaster was recorded as some of the worst flooding in recent history. The total damage cost the Midwest at least $3 billion, and our recovery efforts are still ongoing. Many of my constituents feel they did not receive adequate warnings and notice about the 2019 March flooding from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. I have heard from residents that were given evacuation notices with no time to collect their belongings or prepare, fleeing their houses without shoes or a change of clothes. I respectfully request a written response with a timeline on when the Army Corps became aware of the eminent and immediate danger our communities faced, and what steps the Army Corps took to alert communities. This information will help ensure that Army Corps has the proper procedures in place to ensure communities receive timely information to mitigate damages in future natural disasters. Should you discover that policy changes are required, I am committed to being a leader and a partner in that effort to ensure our citizens are notified as quickly as possible. I am seeking answers specifically on the way Army Corps notified communities and action steps taken during the 2019 Midwestern flooding. I would request these answers only focus on immediately before, during, and immediately after the flooding event. I ask that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to respond with an outline of their preparations before, during, and after this historic flooding and answer the following questions: What actions did the Army Corps take to prepare for the flooding? What actions did the Army Corps take during and after the flooding? Please provide a detailed explanation of the decision-making process behind releasing reservoir waters, and each levee that was compromised. Please provide a timeline of when the Army Corps notified communities regarding the flooding, and who was the point of contact. What actions were taken by the Omaha District to notify, and communicate with, local officials and residents of affected areas about the Midwestern flooding before and during the flooding? What can Army Corps do to improve communication with the public about flooding of the Missouri River, or tributary waters, in Iowa or Nebraska, and do you have any recommendations for any changes to statutory authorizations necessary to improve such communication? Thank you for your work on behalf of Iowa and the work you have done to help our communities recover. I look forward to your answers and to working together to best serve Iowans. Sincerely, Cindy Axne Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-seeks-info-army-corps-after-historic-flooding,Rep. Axne Seeks Info from Army Corps After Historic Flooding,2019-09-09,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) requested information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the steps taken to notify communities immediately prior, during and after the historic flooding that devastated communities across Southwest Iowa in March. In a letter sent to Colonel John Hudson, Commander and District Engineer, Rep. Axne requested a specific timeline of events in order to help ensure that Army Corps has the proper procedures in place to ensure the public receives timely information to mitigate damages in future natural disasters. Many of my constituents feel they did not receive adequate warnings and notice about the 2019 March flooding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I have heard from residents that were given evacuation notices with no time to collect their belongings or prepare, fleeing their houses without shoes or a change of clothes. I respectfully request a written response with a timeline on when the Army Corps became aware of the eminent and immediate danger our communities faced, and what steps the Army Corps took to alert communities, wrote Rep. Axne. Rep. Axne requested written responses to the following six questions: What actions did the Army Corps take to prepare for the flooding? What actions did the Army Corps take during and after the flooding? Please provide a detailed explanation of the decision-making process behind releasing reservoir waters, and each levee that was compromised. Please provide a timeline of when the Army Corps notified communities regarding the flooding, and who was the point of contact. What actions were taken by the Omaha District to notify, and communicate with, local officials and residents of affected areas about the Midwestern flooding before and during the flooding? What can Army Corps do to improve communication with the public about flooding of the Missouri River, or tributary waters, in Iowa or Nebraska, and do you have any recommendations for any changes to statutory authorizations necessary to improve such communication? Full text of the letter is available here and below: September, 09, 2019 Colonel John Hudson Commander and District Engineer Omaha District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dear Colonel Hudson, Following devastating flooding that hit Southwest Iowa and Nebraska in March 2019, families, businesses and farmers in my district are continuing the long road to recovery. This disaster was recorded as some of the worst flooding in recent history. The total damage cost the Midwest at least $3 billion, and our recovery efforts are still ongoing. Many of my constituents feel they did not receive adequate warnings and notice about the 2019 March flooding from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. I have heard from residents that were given evacuation notices with no time to collect their belongings or prepare, fleeing their houses without shoes or a change of clothes. I respectfully request a written response with a timeline on when the Army Corps became aware of the eminent and immediate danger our communities faced, and what steps the Army Corps took to alert communities. This information will help ensure that Army Corps has the proper procedures in place to ensure communities receive timely information to mitigate damages in future natural disasters. Should you discover that policy changes are required, I am committed to being a leader and a partner in that effort to ensure our citizens are notified as quickly as possible. I am seeking answers specifically on the way Army Corps notified communities and action steps taken during the 2019 Midwestern flooding. I would request these answers only focus on immediately before, during, and immediately after the flooding event. I ask that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to respond with an outline of their preparations before, during, and after this historic flooding and answer the following questions: What actions did the Army Corps take to prepare for the flooding? What actions did the Army Corps take during and after the flooding? Please provide a detailed explanation of the decision-making process behind releasing reservoir waters, and each levee that was compromised. Please provide a timeline of when the Army Corps notified communities regarding the flooding, and who was the point of contact. What actions were taken by the Omaha District to notify, and communicate with, local officials and residents of affected areas about the Midwestern flooding before and during the flooding? What can Army Corps do to improve communication with the public about flooding of the Missouri River, or tributary waters, in Iowa or Nebraska, and do you have any recommendations for any changes to statutory authorizations necessary to improve such communication? Thank you for your work on behalf of Iowa and the work you have done to help our communities recover. I look forward to your answers and to working together to best serve Iowans. Sincerely, Cindy Axne Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-finkenauer-introduces-legislation-improve-maternal-health-care,Congresswoman Finkenauer Introduces Legislation to Improve Maternal Health Care for Iowans,2019-09-09,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)helped introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure Iowa's new and expectant mothers can get access to high quality health care no matter where they live. The Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (MOMS) Act introduced with Reps. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujn (D-NM), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) will help increase access to maternal care in Iowa communities that have seen their hospitals' obstetric units close. Since 2000, 34 Iowa hospitals have closed obstetrics units and just 51 of Iowa's 99 counties have maternity care options. A 2018 American Medical Association study found decreasing access to obstetrics in rural areas led to more births happening outside of a hospital and more premature births. I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to help Iowa moms get the health care they need, Congresswoman Finkenauer said.In Congress, I've fought for legislation to keep our hospitals open and physicians serving patients. This bill would help ensure moms aren't driving hours just to get the care that they and their babies need. UnityPoint Health is encouraged to see this legislation to increase investment in rural maternal health, modernize these services through expanding the federal investment in telehealth, and improve the data around geographic inequities in our health care system, said Sabra Rosener, Vice President, Government & External Affairs, UnityPoint Health. We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Finkenauer to pass this important bill and strengthen the foundation of health care for mothers in the Midwest. The Iowa section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is proud to support the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (Rural MOMS) Act, said ACOG District VI Chair Thad Anderson, MD. Access to quality care shouldn't be dependent on zip code. Yet new and expecting moms living in rural areas face unique challenges to accessing care throughout their pregnancies. This bipartisan bill shines an important spotlight on obstetric care access issues facing our patients in Iowa, and would increase opportunities for ob-gyn residents to train in rural community-based settings. We applaud the leadership of Rep. Abby Finkenauer and her commitment to increase access to quality health care during pregnancy. NRHA strongly applauds Congresswoman Finkenauer's leadership on rural maternity care with the introduction of the Rural MOMS Act in the House, Allen Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association said,""Obstetric closures across Iowa and the nation are leaving families without the care they need. The Rural MOMS Act will take important steps towards understanding the root causes of maternal mortality and morbidity and undertake efforts to develop solutions to improve maternal care in rural America. The United States is the only industrialized county with increasing maternal mortality rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women giving birth today have less of a chance of surviving childbirth than a woman in 1987. The Rural MOMS Act would help reverse this trend by: Expanding telehealth to improve access to maternal care Supporting additional maternal and obstetric care training for health care providers Providing grants to improve maternal care options Improving information gathering to identify gaps in rural maternal care Congresswoman Finkenauer is committed to improving access to quality and affordable healthcare in Iowa. She is championing legislation to raise Medicare reimbursement rates in Iowa as well as leading a bill to attract more healthcare providers to rural areas. Finkenauer also led members of the Iowa delegation in support of a federal investigation into Iowa's managed care organizations that have failed Iowans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397321,"Reps. Loebsack, Latta, Long and McEachin Introduce Legislation to Improve Broadband Data Maps",2019-09-06,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Dave Loebsack,L000565,loebsack.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Bob Latta (OH-05) introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (HR 4229)'' will improve the accuracy of FCC broadband data maps by changing the way broadband data is collected. The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Billy Long (MO-07) and Donald McEachin (VA-04). Legislation similar to the Broadband DATA Act has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (MN), Roger Wicker (MS), Gary Peters (MI) and John Thune (SD).Additionally, Reps. McEachin and Long introduced today the Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act (HR 4227), which will help hold broadband providers accountable by making it against the law to knowingly provide inaccurate data to the FCC. Reps. Loebsack and Latta also cosponsored this bill. In 2019, it is unacceptable that many families, small businesses, farmers, educators and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the necessary access to high-speed internet, said Congressman Dave Loebsack. In order to actually fix the problem and get high-speed broadband to rural areas, we must have the best data available. Without knowing where the high-speed broadband problem truly exists, we cannot properly invest in building out access. Folks simply can't compete in the 21st Century economy we live in without access to high-speed broadband internet. Rural communities like much of Ohio's 5th District often struggle with having access to fast, reliable broadband. Unfortunately, without this access it is difficult for them to do their jobs, finish their homework, and stay connected to friends and family. With this legislation, we'll be better able to pinpoint areas that are lacking coverage, and help ensure that unserved and underserved communities have better broadband availability, said Congressman Bob Latta. It is simple: we cannot expand broadband Internet to rural and underserved communities if we do not know first where broadband service is needed, said Congressman A. Donald McEachin. This means we need better coverage maps, which in turn requires Internet service providers to submit accurate coverage data to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Our legislation, the Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services Act, or MAPS Act, will make it unlawful for providers to knowingly, willfully, or recklessly provide inaccurate data to the FCC. The MAPS Act, together with the legislation from Congressman Loebsack and Ranking Member Latta, will ensure that we have a more complete understanding of broadband availabilityand thus help bring much-needed, high-speed Internet to our constituents. I'm proud to join Reps. McEachin, Loebsack and Latta in sponsoring legislation that improves broadband maps, said Congressman Billy Long. For rural communities, such as those in Missouri's 7th Congressional District, access to broadband is scarce. This bill would take the necessary steps to inform providers who is and is not connected. Specifically, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act: Requires the FCC to collect granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers. Requires strong parameters for service availability data collected from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy. Asks the FCC to consider whether to collect verified coverage data from state, local, and tribal governments, as well as from other entities. Creates a process for consumers, state, local, and Tribal governments, and other groups to challenge FCC maps with their own data, and requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without making it overly burdensome on challengers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-finkenauer-announces-federal-investigation-fund-swapping-practice,"CONGRESSWOMAN FINKENAUER ANNOUNCES FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO ""FUND SWAPPING"" PRACTICE",2019-09-02,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced the Government Accountability Office will begin an investigation into federal fund swapping practices this month. Congresswoman Finkenauer was joined by Iowa labor leaders at a press conference in Cedar Rapids. Normally, when federal funding for transportation infrastructure is made available, the state will pass some of that funding on to cities and counties so they can fund and manage their own infrastructure projects. Under federal fund swapping, the states keeps all the federal dollars and instead gives state transportation funding to counties and cities meaning those local projects aren't subject to federal requirements like Buy American and Davis Bacon. I distinctly remember when Iowa decided to pass legislation to allow fund swapping, I was there to fight it and for good reason, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I stood with working families and the fight for American jobs in the State House and I sure as heck stand with them now in Congress. My role as Vice Chair of Highways and Transit has given Iowans a literal seat at the table as we advocate for more investments in our communities, but also the jobs that those investments sustain. I'm happy to be working closely with Chairman DeFazio given the experience gained in Iowa on this issue working to right some wrongs and make sure we get some answers. We need to make sure that any federal investments in our infrastructure come with strong prevailing wage and Buy American requirements. This GAO investigation will be used to direct any further Congressional oversight that may be needed to achieve these goals. The GAO accepted Congresswoman Finkenauer's, and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio's (OR-04), request to investigate the fund-swapping practice. In the request, Finkenauer and DeFazio ask the GAO to investigate: - How long have states have used fund swapping? - Does fund swapping reduce number of projects or lane miles subject to federal requirements? - What reasons do state departments of transportation and project sponsors cite for engaging in fund swapping? - What impact does fund swapping have on the wages and use of local contractors? - What types of projects tend to be involved in fund swapping? As we celebrate Labor Day, Congresswoman Finkenauer isn't just telling us she's for hard-working Iowans, she's showing us, said Rick Moyle, Hawkeye Area Labor Council AFL-CIO Executive Director, It is crucial that infrastructure projects are completed by local contractors who pay fair wages and use American-made materials. We are happy that Congresswoman Finkenauer is doing all she can to ensure that working families come first. ""I am excited to hear of Representative Finkenauer's action on investigating what can be done to ensure workers wage protections follow federal funding down to the local level, said Ryan Drew, president of the Des Moines-Henry County Labor Alliance, Wage protections for the skilled trades have a long history of having bi-partisan support in Washington, but creative anti-worker groups have seemed to have found a way to exploit these protections when the federal funding is distributed to the local community and state level. When we are trying to fill a skills gap in the workforce it seems counterproductive to attack the wages that attract good workers to a seasonal position. I am glad to have Abby's support and attention to correcting this injustice and what many consider to be money laundering."" With federal fund swapping, it's hard to ensure that projects are built with high-quality American steel and other goods, or that the workers are hired locally and paid a fair wage. As of May 2019, 25% of projects made available for contract bids were under Iowa's fund-swapping program (104 of the 414 projects). Of those projects, 64% of them are bridges or other critical structures which if not built to high standards with high-quality materials, can pose a real safety risk While in the Iowa statehouse, Finkenauer voted against the bill that eventually became state law and allowed fund swapping. A copy of the original letter sent to the GAO can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-finkenauer-statement-labor-day,CONGRESSWOMAN FINKENAUER STATEMENT ON LABOR DAY,2019-09-02,2019,2019-09,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on Labor Day: Today, we celebrate our hard-working Iowans who make up the backbone of our state and country. We celebrate the working class and our labor unions who helped build it. We celebrate the protections that keep our friends and neighbors safe while they're on the job, and that ensure they get paid a fair wage. Today is also a reminder that we must always stay vigilant as some policy makers say they're for our workers during election years, but then turn around and push an anti-worker agenda. I grew up in a union household, I'm standing up for workers who want to earn a fair wage and build a good life, that's one of the reasons I ran for Congress. Today is my first Labor Day as your congresswoman, and I couldn't be more honored to be your voice.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-finkenauer-hosts-bipartisan-roundtable-farmers-and-usda-under-secretary,REP. FINKENAUER HOSTS BIPARTISAN ROUNDTABLE WITH FARMERS AND USDA UNDER SECRETARY BILL NORTHEY,2019-08-28,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)held a roundtable discussion with Iowa farmers at the County line Feed Mill to hear about important issues affecting Iowa agriculture. Finkenauer was joined by USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey. Finkenauer and Northey also toured and met with farmers at the Black Hawk County corn and soy bean test plot. I was happy to host Under Secretary Northey in Iowa's First Congressional District to hear what's important to Iowa's farmers and producers, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, This was an opportunity to listen and lift up the voices of farmers who are being impacted by the trade war and increasing number of small refinery waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard. I'm committed to working with Northey and anyone who is serious about listening and taking action for Iowa. During the discussions, Congresswoman Finkenauer also unveiled her Fighting for Iowa's Farmers & Rural Way of Life plan. The plan is a roadmap to guide policy discussions and elevate Iowa's voices at the federal level to ensure Iowa's agriculture economy and rural comminutes remain strong for generations. The plan includes eight key points: Expand Markets Abroad and Reduce Barriers to Trade Support New and Beginning Farmers Invest in our Locks and Dams and other Critical Infrastructure Protect Crop Insurance and Support a Robust Farm Safety Net Ease Regulatory Burdens for Farmers and Producers Promote our Renewable Fuels Sector and other Domestic Markets Support Entrepreneurship and Revitalization in Rural Economies Secure a Strong Future for Agriculture This is a set of priorities that I have developed through my eight months of speaking with Iowans and bringing Iowans to Washington, D.C. to speak about their priorities, Finkenauer said, I look forward to continuing these conversations with Iowa farmers and producers in our district and in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Finkenauer has taken a leading role in standing up for Iowa's producers impacted by the trade war with China and small refinery waivers. Last week, she led a bipartisan letter calling for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the waiver review process. As chairwoman of the Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship, Congresswoman Finkenauer has brought Iowans to testify in Washington, D.C. about challenges facing them. She is committed to continuing to highlight Iowans' stories.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-finkenauer-issues-statement-escalating-tariffs-china,Congresswoman Finkenauer Issues Statement on Escalating Tariffs on China,2019-08-23,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)released the following statement on President Trump's announcement of escalating tariffs on China: Rather than playing King on Twitter, and giving American companies orders, President Trump should be focused on cleaning up the painful mess he created. Iowans are hurting because he started a trade war with China for political reasons, not because he was serious about advocating for working families or dealing with China as a bad actor, which it is. Five days before the first Congressional special election in 2018 (Conor Lamb, PA-17) Trump announced steel and aluminum tariffs in hopes of keeping steel country red. China retaliated a month and a half after Trump's tweet. They focused directly on Iowa, my family and my neighbors, and they placed tariffs on corn, soybeans, and pork. It will take decades for us to recover. Since President Trump didn't have a plan to begin with, he continues to escalate, like he did today, and China keeps calling his bluff. Families in Iowa's rural towns and bigger cities are being devastated by tariffs. From plummeting corn and soybean prices to taxes on consumer goods. If President Trump actually cared about holding China accountable for stealing intellectual property and seeds, then he would've worked with our allies to take on China as one powerful group. Instead he went at it alone to score some cheap short-term political points -- allowing China to counter-punch the U.S. and Iowa. I have always promised to work with anyone if it helped Iowa and stand up to anyone who hurts us. I stand by that promise and hope for a brighter future for my state and my country with leadership who does the same.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-calls-investigation-epas-expansion-biofuel-waivers,Rep. Axne Calls for Investigation Into EPA's Expansion of Biofuel Waivers,2019-08-21,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, called for a federal investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) expansion of refinery exemptions from blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter sent today to Charles J. Sheehan, Acting Inspector General (IG) of the EPA, Rep. Axne requested that the IG conduct an investigation into the highly questionable decision-making and misuse of the EPA's small refinery exemption (SRE) authority to benefit large or unqualified companies that may be exerting an undue amount of influence over the regulatory process. I have serious concerns that the EPA continues to ignore the boundaries of its authority under the law in its administration of this waiver authority. Relying on the veil of secrecy provided by claims of confidential business information conceals the EPA's highly questionable decision-making and misuse of its authority to benefit a small group of companies that may be exerting an undue amount of influence over the regulatory process, wrote Congresswoman Axne. Under the RFS, the EPA is able to grant waivers to small refineries who experience disproportionate economic hardship. The EPA recently announced an additional 31 exemptions for the 2018 RFS, bringing the total waivers issued in the last three years to 85 a drastic expansion from the 10 that were granted between the years 2008-2016. Exemptions have been granted to some of the world's largest and most profitable oil companies, including Andeavor, Chevron, Exxon, and Carl Ichan's CVR. Through the unprecedented use of small refinery exemptions, the EPA has waived more than 4 billion gallons of requirements for renewable fuel blending at the expense of Iowa farmers and rural communities, wrote Axne. Rep. Axne announced that she was calling for the investigation at a bipartisan press conference at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy. In addition to Rep. Axne, Mike Jerke, CEO and President of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy; Tom Shipley, Republican State Senator; Jeff Jorgenson, Board Member of the Iowa Soybean Association; and Delayne D. Johnson, CEO of Quad County Corn Processors, spoke on how the these biofuel exemptions are hurting Iowa farmers and rural communities. In May, Rep. Axne led a group of 35 Republicans and Democrats on a letter requesting the Administration's EPA to stop issuing Small Refinery Exemptions for large or unqualified refiners under the RFS program. In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the Members highlighted that the expansion of biofuel waivers hurts farmers who rely on demand for corn-based ethanol and other biofuels and has increased our dependence on foreign oil. Rep. Axne, Congressman Dave Loebsack, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, and other members of the House Biofuels Caucus introduced bipartisan legislation that would force the Trump administration to reallocate each gallon of biofuel demand taken from America's farmers. In April, Rep. Axne wrote legislation to make the secondgeneration biofuel producer tax credit permanent in order to support Iowa farmers, create jobs across the state and reduce dependence on foreign oil. This legislation will incentivize investment in the development of advanced biofuel production by renewing a $1.01 per gallon tax credit for producers which expired at the end of 2017. The full text of the letter is available here and below. August 21, 2019 Charles J. Sheehan Acting Inspector General U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Dear Acting Inspector General Sheehan: I am writing to express my grave concern that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is violating Congressional intent to increase blending of renewable fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Through the unprecedented use of small refinery exemptions (SREs), the EPA has waived more than 4 billion gallons of requirements for renewable fuel blending at the expense of Iowa farmers and rural communities. On August 9, 2019, the EPA issued an additional thirty-one small refinery exemptions for the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance year,reportedlyat the direction of the President of the United States[1], bringing the total number of waivers issued in the last three years to 85 a drastic expansion. These waivers convey significant financial gain, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, to corporations whose identity is concealed from the public. These waivers cut demand for biofuels, hurt farmers, raise the price of gas, and increase greenhouse gas emissions. 2018 was the first year ever that ethanol consumption fell, even with historically low prices. Biodiesel losses exceed $2 billion per year and are estimated at $7.7 billion over 3 years. All of this comes at a time when farm income is down by 49 percent since the end of 2018, according to theBureau of Economic Analysis.[2] These small refinery waivers are enriching oil refiners on the backs of farmers and the rural economy. I have serious concerns that the EPA continues to ignore the boundaries of its authority under the law in its administration of this waiver authority. Relying on the veil of secrecy provided by claims of confidential business information conceals the EPA's highly questionable decision-making and misuse of its authority to benefit a small group of companies that may be exerting an undue amount of influence over the regulatory process. I request an immediate investigation into the small refinery waivers granted in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to include which refiners received waivers in each year, the financial value of the waivers received by each company, any contact by refineries seeking waivers with the EPA or the White House, the consistency of the EPA's decisions with statutory requirements and regulations, the EPA's decision-making process, and the presence of conflict of interest for any of the EPA staff or Administration officials involved in the SRE process. I am also asking your office to determine what reasoning the EPA had for each waiver from 2016 to 2018, including if there was any statutory or legal rule to support it. As you know, from 2008 until 2016, less than 10 waivers were granted compared to the 85 waivers granted over the last three years. I request that OIG work to determine if there were refineries who were denied a waiver within that 8-year period but received a waiver under this Administration. In conducting your investigation, I request that you focus at a minimum on the following areas of concern: 1)The EPA hasstatedthat they were required to shift its approach on small refinery waivers in 2017 after the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit decision that was issued in Sinclair Wyoming Ref. Co vs. the U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency. Documentsin this case revealed that the EPA had already changed its policy before May 4, 2017. These court released documents show that the EPA wrote to a refining company that we [the EPA] are changing our approach to the waiver program by allowing exemptions to refineries even if their operations are not significantly impaired by compliance. Carl Icahn, a majority shareholder of CVR Energy, served as a special advisor to the President through August 2017. It wasreported in April 2018 that CVR Energy received a small refinery exemption from the EPA.[3] 2)Under the RFS, the EPA is able to grant small refinery hardship waivers to refineries producing less than 75,000 barrels per day who are experiencing disproportionate economic hardship. In determining economic hardship, the EPA is required to consult with the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate a refiner's hardship before granting a waiver. The EPAignored advicefrom the DOE, which could not identify any financial justification for many of these exemptions. In July 2019, Secretary of Energy Rick Perryconfirmed[4]that the EPA has issued at least one small refinery waiver against the DOE's recommendations, andreports[5]indicate that the EPA granted full waivers rather than the partial waivers recommended by DOE. 3)On April 12, 2019, the EPA released a Federal Registernotice[6]with a proposed rule that would release the names of the refineries that receive SREs to the public. On April 30, it wasreported[7]that the White House intervened at the request of refiners interested in protecting their identities, and the EPA stopped the rule. The names of refiners receiving waivers have still not been released by the EPA, though media reports indicate that profitable companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, Holly Frontier, and others received waivers. 4)The EPA has only issued SREs retroactively, after the RFS compliance year has ended. Issuing waivers prospectively would allow waived gallons to be redistributed through the rest of the program, consistent with the intent of the law. Interagency review of the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) confirmed that EPA is able to issue SREs prospectively in a reasonable and straightforward manner. When asked by Congress in April 2019 if the EPA could shift to a prospective SRE approach, EPA Administrator Wheeler acknowledged that the answer is yes.[8] 5)The EPA's regulations[9] require that the RVO, which sets blending targets for each year, incorporate the number of gallons expected to be waived under the small refinery exemption authority. Yet, the EPA has never included anything other than a zero in this formula when it establishes annual RVO. The EPA's misuse of the small refinery hardship waiver authority must end. Rural economies and farmers cannot withstand more of the same. I look forward to the results of your investigation and request a copy of your investigation be sent to me upon completion. Sincerely, Cindy Axne Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-finkenauer-leads-bipartisan-call-investigation-small-refinery-exemption,Rep. Finkenauer Leads Bipartisan Call for Investigation into Small Refinery Exemption Waivers,2019-08-21,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) sent a bipartisan letter to the Government Accountability Office formally calling for an investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency's granting of small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Our concerns stem from the economic consequences to our rural communities created by exempting nearly 4 billion gallons of fuel from the RFS, a standard intended to expand the nation's renewable fuels sector, Congresswoman Finkenauer and the representatives wrote, By 2016, the ethanol industry has grown to support over 339,000 U.S. jobs and driven $41 billion in economic activity by supporting corn and soy markets and reducing gasoline prices. President of the American Soybean Association, Davie Stephens, said, The American Soybean Association appreciates Representative Finkenauer's leadership and efforts to scrutinize the large number of RFS exemptions being granted by EPA. ASA is very supportive of Rep. Finkenauer's request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to analyze the EPA's refinery exemption approval process and the impacts the waivers are having on the U.S. biodiesel industry. Congresswoman Finkenauer and the representatives are asking for the GAO to investigate: The Environmental Protection Agency's approval process for small refinery exemption waivers; The role of the Department of Energy in reviewing and scoring waiver applications; What factors are being considering in the assessment and approval of these applications and whether changes have been made to the review process under the current Administration; Last week, the EPA announced it granted 31 new small refinery exemption waivers. Under the Trump administration, small refinery exemption waivers have more than quadrupled from the previous administration. Between 2013 and 2015, the EPA granted no more than 8 waivers for any given year. The current Administration retroactively approved 19 waivers for 2016, then proceeded to grant 35 waivers in 2017, and now 31 waivers for 2018exempting a total of nearly 4 billion gallons of fuel from the RFS. The number of waivers approved has grown exponentially with major corporations like ExxonMobil and Chevron among those that received these economic hardship exemptions. This raises real questions about the review process and what other factors that the EPA is considering in approving the waivers. After sending the letter Congresswoman Finkenauer said, Undercutting the Renewable Fuel Standard has a broad and painful impact on folks in Iowa's First Congressional District. The renewable fuels industry and our farmers have fought hard for a seat at the table and President Trump looked Iowans in the eye and promised he'd listen, but actions speak so much louder than words. That's why I'm standing up and fighting to get to the bottom of why Iowans and renewable fuels are once again on the losing end of this secretive process at the EPA. It's not the way Washington should work and Iowa deserves answers and action. Congresswoman Finkenauer was joined in sending the letter to GAO by members of the House Biofuels Caucus, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL), Congressman Roger Marshall (R-KS), Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL), Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA), Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also signed the letter. A copy of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-news-potus-approved-epa-biofuel-waivers,Rep. Axne on News that POTUS Approved EPA Biofuel Waivers,2019-08-16,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Cynthia Axne,A000378,axne.house.gov,,,legacy,"DES MOINES - Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne released the following statement on the news, first reported by Reuters, that the President intervened and personally approved the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) biofuel waivers: ""When President Trump came to Iowa in June, he promised to support Iowa farmers, producers and rural communities. Iowans asked specifically for one thingdon't approve any more unnecessary small refinery waivers. ""It is extremely disappointing that not only did the EPA grant 31 out of 37 small refinery waivers, but the President personally approved these requests. These biofuel waivers are directly hurting Iowa farmers and producers who rely on demand for corn-based ethanol. ""Despite the Administrator's promise for transparency, the EPA's closed-door decision making process regarding these waivers is not only deeply concerning, but jeopardizing Iowa's economy. I ran for Congress to hold Washington accountable and end the culture of corruption. Iowans deserve a responsive, open and transparent EPA. I plan to ensure that happens."" In May, Rep. Axne led a group of 35 Republicans and Democrats on aletter requestingthe Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop issuing Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) for large or unqualified refiners under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the Members highlighted that the expansion of biofuel waivers hurts farmers who rely on demand for corn-based ethanol and other biofuels and has increased our dependence on foreign oil.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-finkenauer-statement-rep-kings-rape-or-incest-comments,"Rep. Finkenauer Statement on Rep. King's ""rape or incest"" Comments",2019-08-14,2019,2019-08,Democrat,House,IA,Abby Finkenauer,F000467,finkenauer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) released the following statement in response to Congressman Steve King's (IA-04) ""rape or incest"" comments: I am appalled by Representative Steve King's cruel comments and his blatant disrespect for sexual assault survivors. As someone who strives for bipartisanship, I can tell you, this is not about Republicans or Democrats this is about King's pattern of disgracing Iowans with his rhetoric.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z