Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act.

This bipartisan bill will finally hold China accountable for decades of evading U.S. trade laws through transshipment, duty evasion, and forced labor.

The CCP's illicit practices are deliberately designed to take advantage of American workers and our businesses, undercutting American wages and gutting rural manufacturing towns that once thrived with good-paying jobs.

The select committee on China uncovered trade fraud by Chinese auto manufacturer Qingdao Sunsong. Sunsong was using transnational shipment to evade our U.S. tariffs, forcing an Illinois company to lay off a quarter of its workforce.

Just in May, a Canadian company, or actually two of them, paid the Justice Department $19 million after being caught evading customs duties for Chinese steel. This is not an isolated event but rather a part of a broader strategy by the CCP to dominate global markets, and they are doing it on the backs of American workers while perpetrating egregious slave labor violations.

Despite the sheer volume of trade-related cases, the Department of Justice remains inadequately equipped to detect, investigate, and prosecute such offenses effectively. My bill will give the Department of Justice real tools to stop these blatant violations and ensure that penalties are meaningfully enforced. American workers have felt pain for decades because of Communist China's malfeasance. Now it is time for Communist China to face the consequences.

This is a bipartisan opportunity to support American industry, reshore domestic manufacturing, and champion American workers.

I am proud to lead this commonsense legislation with tremendous support from both Republicans and Democrats. I am grateful to have the support of China select committee Chairman Moolenaar and Representative Krishnamoorthi on this bill, and I deeply appreciate their collaboration.

To get this done, there should be nothing partisan about delivering accountability for those who blatantly violate our laws and manipulate American workers. We have seen good progress on reshoring domestic manufacturing, but it is clear that current enforcement mechanisms aren't strong enough. We have more work to do.

My bill will help keep that momentum alive while fighting against the bad actors who will stop at nothing to undermine our country, our businesses, and our hardworking families.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation supported by union workers, steelworkers, and American workers.

Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit foreign nationals from designated countries of concern from accessing nonpublic areas of any national laboratory.

This straightforward measure would protect the integrity of America's national labs and the sensitive research that underpins our national security.

For years, we know that the Chinese Communist Party has executed sweeping, coordinated campaigns to acquire American tech and innovation by any means necessary.

Last month, Mr. David Shedd, the former Acting Director of Defense Intelligence Agency, said: Efforts blending cyber espionage, human intelligence, academic collaboration, and commercial investments have fueled China's rapid military and economic rise.

This should concern all of us.

Congress passed a law 2 years ago which prohibited foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from accessing our weapons labs. This was an important first step, but now we must address the same vulnerabilities in our science labs. These are labs where sensitive but unclassified work on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and advanced computing are performed.

These are the very labs that the President has tasked with executing the Genesis Mission, a modern-day Manhattan Project, to ensure that the United States wins the race for AI dominance. Yet, at the same time, we are allowing thousands of nontraditional intelligence collectors from our competitors and greatest adversaries to operate inside of these facilities.

We know China's playbook. The CCP will weaponize any expertise it gains militarily, commercially, or economically. Our adversaries are running sophisticated espionage campaigns while we are rolling out the red carpet for thousands of these foreign nationals from proven countries of concern. This is a direct threat to our national security.

Mr. Chair, this amendment simply closes a known vulnerability. It prohibits foreign nationals from countries of concern from accessing any nonpublic area of a national laboratory that receives Defense funding.

Building on those actions taken 2 years ago, this amendment protects the Genesis project and mission and ensures that America, not our adversaries, will reap the benefits of scientific breakthroughs that our scientists achieve.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, while I think we can all agree that collaboration is an essential part of research, especially much of the research happening in our national laboratories, we are at a critical point for our country when it comes to national security and making sure that the investments that American taxpayers are putting into these institutions are protected from our adversaries.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to allow permanent, nationwide, year-round access to E15.

Mr. Speaker, if you ate today, thank a farmer; if you got dressed today, thank a farmer; and if you put gas in your car today, thank a farmer.

This is a challenging time for our ag economy, and we should be using every tool available to us to support our farmers and our rural communities. This bill does just that, driving new demand for American agriculture products and boosting our farm income by $13.8 billion.

Year-round E15 would lower costs across the board for working families across the country, saving drivers up to 30 cents per gallon and reducing those prices along the supply chain. That is a savings of about $200 a year in fuel costs for the average family. Iowans, just for a stat here, have saved $126 million in the last decade by choosing E15 over E10. That is real savings.

Full E15 adoption would also help to support 128,000 full-time jobs.

After years of uncertainty, it is time for Congress to step up and provide a permanent solution. This is something I have been pushing for years. This is not a mandate. This is commonsense regulation fixes focused right on the consumer.

This is not a mandate. It is a market. It is a win-win-win supporting homegrown energy, reducing reliance on foreign oil and continuing to support America's producers who do the best thing which is feeding and fueling the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at the House Appropriations Committee's markup of the FY27 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, I missed the first vote on April 22, 2026.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 130.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time and for his excellent work in shepherding this bill through the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support my bill, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act. This is a commonsense piece of legislation because when Roe v. Wade was rightfully overturned in 2022, the next chapter of the pro- life movement began. We were all given the opportunity to help strengthen our support for unborn babies and for new moms.

As a mom of two, this issue is personal for me. I know that when you are pregnant, there are about a million questions that are going through your head at any given time. You have the doctors' appointments. You have new financial responsibilities. Pregnant students have so much on their plate as they are working to balance school and have a healthy pregnancy at the same time.

I think it is just unacceptable that so often they would choose between finishing their education and having their baby, despite the Title IX protections that are already in place.

Under Title IX, pregnant students have the right to stay in school and finish their education and achieve their career goals. However, the academic disparity does exist because of limited resources and support for pregnant students.

These women may fear institutional reprisal, loss of athletic scholarships, or even negative impacts on their academic opportunities and their standing. Those fears and anxieties are not just unjust to women but they are a poor reflection of how our higher education institutions treat pregnant students.

Higher education institutions and universities have a responsibility to empower all their students, all of them, to succeed, including pregnant students. They deserve to be treated with respect and surrounded with care and love. That is what this piece of legislation is designed to do.

I have visited pregnancy resource centers in Iowa and met with so many of those who have dedicated their cause to life, many of whom have traveled right here to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life this weekend. It may be a snowy March for Life this weekend.

It has been inspiring to me to see all of the pro-life community spring into action to really help our expecting mothers and their babies to thrive because that is what this movement is all about. It is about recognizing the sanctity of every life and valuing life at every stage.

It is crucial pregnant women know they have people standing behind them, resources available to them, and that they are entitled to these accommodations on campus. Completing an education as a mother is not only empowering for the student but vital to ensuring a strong future for her child, for our next generation.

The Pregnant Students' Rights Act amends the Higher Education Act to require our colleges and universities to clearly distribute information about pregnant students' rights and available resources through student handbooks, emails, websites, and orientations, while promoting accountability when those students' rights are violated.

It is troubling that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are so dug in on their pro-abortion stances and agenda that they would oppose providing pregnant students with information on their rights and resources available to them to continue their education and have a healthy pregnancy.

Supporting women who choose life should not be a partisan issue. Every woman who completes her studies while pregnant strengthens our families, our communities, and our workforce. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will help to vote to empower pregnant students and support this vital life-affirming legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the right direction to creating a culture of life in our society and a step that we must take as we continue to pursue policies that help our families to grow and thrive from Iowa and beyond across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in committee on this piece of legislation that is designed to empower the American worker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2262, the Flexibility for Workers Education Act.

For too long, we know that Washington, D.C., has pursued policies that left American workers behind. Republicans continue to advance progrowth, proworker policies that expand opportunity, reward hard work, and help Americans to get ahead.

No matter where I go out in Iowa--Main Street businesses, farm shops, manufacturing facilities, healthcare facilities--I meet the hardworking men and women of Iowa who want to take that next step in their careers. They want to build skills. They want to earn

more money for their families, and they want to provide a better future for their kids and for other Iowans.

However, outdated regulatory red tape prevents skilled workers from being able to take advantage of voluntary--I repeat--voluntary professional development opportunities offered by employers. My bill, the Flexibility for Workers Education Act, would cut this red tape, expanding access to these voluntary education programs that allow workers to reach their full potential on their terms.

Mr. Speaker, imagine a facilities associate, ready for advancement, who can take evening training courses sponsored by their employer to become an appliance technician. That kind of flexibility opens the door to higher pay and that long-term career growth that they need to see.

I am also very proud to have the support of the chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, so I thank Representative Walberg for his support. The gentleman understands how much this will impact workers' bottom lines, being able to take more money home to provide for their families, and so I thank the gentleman for this practical approach that benefits everyone.

Again, we know workers gain skills. They gain opportunity. Employers retain these talented employees in the workforce. There is stronger morale, and communities are building a stronger, more resilient workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and continue to expand opportunities for American workers and families. I look forward to continuing to deliver more commonsense solutions to help Iowans and Americans comfortably work and raise their families.

Mr. Speaker, due to flight delays, I missed evening votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 13, YEA on Roll Call No. 14, and YEA on Roll Call No. 15.

personal explanation

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a profound sense of loss.

Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown and Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar of Des Moines were killed in action by ISIS terrorists while serving on a counterterrorism mission in Syria.

Yesterday, I had the solemn honor of attending the dignified transfer of these fallen heroes. No words can fully capture the weight of that moment or the depth of gratitude that we owe these heroes and their families.

Mothers and fathers should never have to bury their children. Our hearts are broken for these Gold Star families.

My husband, Matt, and I are mourning alongside you, and we join Americans across the country asking our Lord to hold close the families of the fallen. Watch over our troops, and bless our military families.

Sergeant Howard and Sergeant Torres-Tovar represent the very best of Iowa, and they will forever be remembered as heroes.

Mr. Speaker, due to the tragic death of Iowa National Guardsmen Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres- Tovar and my attendance at their dignified transfer, I missed votes on the morning of December 17, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 343, and YEA on Roll Call No. 344.

Mr. Speaker, due to flight delays as a result of winter weather, I missed Monday evening votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 335, and YEA on Roll Call No. 336.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, president of Iowa State University, on her retirement next month after more than 40 years of distinguished service.

Dr. Wintersteen has been a remarkable leader whose commitment to her students and to the State of Iowa has left a lasting impact on the institution. She brought the ``Innovate at Iowa State'' vision to life, solidifying the school's role as a national leader in research and entrepreneurship.

Under her leadership, Iowa State University has advanced cutting-edge research to strengthen Iowa agriculture. She supported world-class faculty and helped prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators to solve challenges and better our State and our Nation.

My husband, Matt, an Iowa State alum, and I, of course, look forward to many more Cyclone games and know that Dr. Wintersteen will be cheering on the Clones for many more years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Wintersteen and congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Iowans overwhelmingly rejected the Washington status quo in November, demanding an end to unelected bureaucrats misusing taxpayer resources.

President Trump's rescissions package cuts $9.4 billion, including $3 million for Iraqi ``Sesame Street'', $6 million for net-zero cities in Mexico, and $1 million for voter ID in Haiti, not here in the United States.

We are only scratching the surface with this package. Imagine being able to redirect those dollars to veterans' care or specialty crop programs in a State like mine.

This package also rescinds funds for NPR and PBS. For decades, public broadcasting has not adhered to objectivity standards enshrined in law. It has pushed biased narratives and forced inappropriate content on children, like a movie celebrating the sex change of a child, and a feature on the racial origins of fat phobia. I am not sure what that means.

Children should not be fed woke propaganda, certainly not on the taxpayer's dime. That is coming from a former broadcaster.

I thank President Trump for exposing this waste and working to protect Americans' hard-earned dollars. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the commissioning of the U.S. Navy's state-of-the-art nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Iowa, and the brave men and women who will serve aboard her.

This vessel represents not only the strength and innovation of our naval warfighters but also the heart and tenacity of Iowans.

Within the USS Iowa, you will find unique nods to our great State, highlighting Iowa's agriculture, leadership in education, and contributions to energy production.

The USS Iowa will enhance our force readiness around the world and serve as a powerful deterrent, compelling our adversaries to maybe think twice before attempting to destabilize the international order.

I thank the crew for their service and pray for their continued safety.

May she always navigate with Iowa grit and return home safely.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 30.