Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of E15 year-round. This will lower gas prices. At a time when we need to help the family budget, today, we are doing something about it. Today, the Republicans are actually doing something to lower the gas prices for everyone in this great country.

I represent the Nation's largest agricultural district, and there is a reason why Iowa farmers and families are so passionate about this issue. It will expand the market for farmers. It will secure energy independence. It will lower the gas prices for all of our families.

Gridlock in D.C. has prevented the passage of E15 for over a decade. Today, we are finally taking action.

Trump called on Congress to get year-round E15 passed and to his desk when he was in Iowa earlier this year. I agree with President Trump that our farmers, our families, and our rural communities deserve this victory.

At the beginning of this year, I was appointed as co-chair of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to find a solution, and that is what we have. From farmers to energy producers to fuel retailers to equipment dealers, support of year-round E15 spans all sectors of our economy.

In Iowa, the option to buy E15 means lower gas prices by up to 40 cents per gallon. It drives nationwide savings of about $20 billion. It will boost corn demand by 2.4 billion bushels and increase farm income by $14 million.

E15 is truly a game changer for our State, and we want to see these benefits shared across the country. After months of negotiation and listening to the voices of all stakeholders, it is time to get this bill passed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support E15 and lower gas prices for all families, small businesses, and the agricultural community. That is what this bill will do.

Mr. Speaker, today is tax day. Taxpayers across Iowa are seeing real relief through bigger refunds and higher take-home pay delivered by the historic working families tax cuts bill.

Let me be clear. This is real money back in the pockets of hardworking families, small business owners, and farmers.

We have heard the numbers today, and they are historic--the largest refund season in our Nation's history, with Iowans seeing an average tax cut of over $3,000.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you the rest of the story. I am hearing from family farmers who now have the certainty that their operation will stay in their family for generations to come because this bill includes my provision to permanently double the death tax exemption.

I am hearing from hardworking parents excited to have access to family medical leave, have double child tax credit, and a $1,000 downpayment for children through Trump's tax accounts.

I am hearing from manufacturers and agricultural producers who are finally seeing a path forward with affordable access to credit, immediate expensing, and a permanent small-business deduction, giving them the certainty they need to invest, grow, and create new jobs in our communities.

I am hearing from waitresses, delivery drivers, tradesmen, and millions of Americans who will finally keep more of what they earned because we delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security.

Mr. Speaker, this is what an economic revival looks like. Through the leadership of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, we are restoring opportunity, rewarding work, and strengthening the backbone of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sarah Root and express the relief of our community that justice has been delivered to her killer.

In 2016, 21-year-old Sarah Root was driving home from her graduation when an illegal immigrant, who was drunk, driving at three times the legal limit, struck and killed her. Her killer posted bail and vanished from the country, leaving Sarah's family without answers for nearly 10 years.

Sarah should be 31 today. In her memory, I fought to pass Sarah's Law, included in the first bill signed by President Trump.

Her bill is now law, and on February 3, justice finally came for her killer. He was extradited, convicted, and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

As a father of two girls, I cannot fathom the pain Michelle and Scott have endured the past 10 years. Sarah's Law is a promise to them and every American family that we will not ignore these tragedies, and we will act to prevent them.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 49, and YEA on Roll Call No. 50.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for these votes. Had I been present, I would have voted on YEA on Roll Call No. 335, and YEA on Roll Call No. 336.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for these votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 303, and YEA on Roll Call No. 304.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 305.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend and fellow Iowan, Dan Houston, on his retirement from Principal Financial Group after 41 years of service.

From starting his first job with Principal in 1984 to eventually becoming chairman, president, and CEO, Dan exemplifies the power of hard work and dedication. His decisions have helped more families achieve financial security and plan for tomorrow.

Dan has also committed himself and Principal Financial to philanthropic causes in Des Moines and across the State of Iowa.

Under his leadership, Principal donated generously to United Way and the annual Principal charity golf classic which raised millions of dollars for Iowa youth. The Principal Foundation awards grants to worthy causes including disaster recovery, affordable housing, and small business development.

Dan has always prioritized the people whom Principal Financial serves, putting families and our communities first.

In his retirement, Dan will have more time to focus on the things that truly matter most: spending time with his wife, Joanie, his children, and his grandchildren, and devoting his talents to causes and organizations near and dear to his heart.

I thank Dan for his incredible contributions to Iowa and wish him and his family the very best in his next chapter of life.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson for bringing this bill forward. It is an amazing bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the CLARITY Act. The increasing adoption of digital assets and the use of blockchain technologies can grow our economy and provide American families with a new opportunity to grow wealth.

However, under President Biden, digital assets were attacked, which crushed innovation and created uncertainty for businesses.

Fortunately, President Trump is working to make America the crypto capital of the world. We want digital asset innovation to happen in America and crypto jobs to be created in America without ceding ground to foreign countries.

That is why we must pass the CLARITY Act, to spur innovation and support economic growth by providing clear rules of the road for digital assets in the United States.

This bill establishes clear roles for the SEC and CFTC, which prevents agencies from overreach and confusion. It provides consumer protections through greater transparency and accountability in the marketplace. It fosters innovation by providing a pathway for digital asset firms to operate legally and with confidence, encouraging digital asset innovation to remain in the U.S. The CLARITY Act unlocks economic growth, global competitiveness, and financial opportunity for all.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and put America first in the race to lead the global digital asset marketplace for our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Becky Koenig and congratulate her on her retirement after nearly 40 years in education.

Since 1984, Becky has invested in the education of generations of Iowans across the communities of Sumner, Forest City, Lake Park, and Spencer. Her leadership and dedication to the classroom have left a lasting impact on each student, teacher, and faculty member that has had the pleasure of working, teaching, and learning alongside her.

In addition to teaching, Becky has spent 38 years as a speech coach, guiding students in competition. As a head coach, she contributed to Spencer High School's 50-year streak of sending at least one group to the Iowa All-State Festival.

Outside of the classroom, Becky was known to be a tireless advocate for her fellow educators and students, a true leader. As an Instructional Mentor Coach, she formally mentored many teachers and informally guided countless others with the years of experience and wisdom she accrued.

Becky was one of those educators who had a lasting impact not just on her students' education, but on their lives. Students from the past still reach out to her to chat, grab lunch, and thank her for the role she played in their formative years. She has inspired thousands of Iowans with her work, leaving a legacy that colleagues will look fondly back upon and future educators will look towards as a model for their careers.

As she begins this next chapter in her life, I would like to thank Becky for the incredible work she has done for the state of Iowa--and our great Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Becky Koenig for a remarkable career and wishing her all the best in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will dramatically grow our economy and reduce our deficit. It is the largest tax cut in American history for families, farmers, workers, and small businesses.

This bill will help our Main Street businesses grow, invest, and hire, and it will increase the exemption for the death tax, which will help save 2 million family farms.

Additionally, this legislation formally funds the border wall, hires more ICE and Border Patrol agents, and creates American energy independence.

We must pass this bill to unleash economic growth and rural prosperity. Let's make President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act the law of the land.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize ALS Awareness Month, to honor those who have lost their lives to this awful disease and to share my support for our fellow Americans living with ALS.

Last year, I had the opportunity to meet with Lori Hermstad from Spencer, Iowa, who tragically lost both of her daughters to ALS.

At just 17 and 26 years old, Alex and Jaci Hermstad had their lives cut short by this horrible disease.

They sadly became the youngest twin girls in history to lose their lives to FUS-ALS, an even rarer form of this disease.

Lori's resilience in the face of unthinkable loss is inspiring, and she shared with me the positive memories that she had of her brave daughters.

Jaci and Alex embraced life with remarkable strength, fearless hearts, and endless courage. They loved their families, friends, and faith, and they shared a passion for the outdoors and horses.

Jaci and Alex's bravery in the face of overwhelming odds are helping to advance science in the ALS community today. Alex's brain tissue was donated to advance ALS research, and Jaci personally urged lawmakers and the FDA to fast-track a new personalized drug designed specifically for her rare and aggressive form of ALS.

These sisters showed us what it means to be courageous, to live with purpose, and to never stop fighting for others.

In the darkest moments, they were beacons of light.

In honor of Alex and Jaci, and every American living with or who has lost their life to ALS, we must recommit our efforts to find new cures and therapies for ALS.

We will never forget Alex and Jaci, and we will continue to fight to find a cure for this tragic disease.

congratulating dr. wendy wintersteen

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, on announcing her retirement as president of Iowa State University.

Under her leadership, President Wintersteen prioritized students, led the State in research, and advanced Iowa State's incredible reputation. I have always enjoyed working with her to advance Iowa State's priorities at the Federal level.

We also worked closely on protecting CIRAS to grow manufacturing in Iowa and to bring jobs to our rural communities. She played a pivotal role in supporting our veterinary diagnostic lab and the world-renowned Ames Laboratory. She will continue to be remembered as a phenomenal leader for our Iowa State University.

Mr. Speaker, I wish President Wintersteen and her husband, Robert, all the best in this next chapter of life.

Congratulating High School Seniors Across Iowa

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate high school seniors across Iowa who are graduating. This is an incredible milestone in their life that they will always remember. It marks the conclusion of 4 years of hard work, perseverance, and personal growth.

Whether they are off to a trade school, community college, a 4-year university, or heading straight into the workforce, their contributions to our communities are crucial, and their voices are needed

They are the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who will make our State and country a better place.

I especially want to congratulate my daughter, Savannah, who graduated yesterday and will be attending Iowa State University this fall.

Savannah's mom and I are so proud of her accomplishments, and I can't wait to see her future.

I congratulate the class of 2025. Now go chase your dreams.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump's one big, beautiful bill delivers on the promises that we made to Iowa's workers, manufacturers, farmers, small businesses, and our families.

The bill increases the small business deduction, helping Iowa's small businesses invest in their workers and grow their operations. It also doubles section 179 small business expensing, which means better-paying jobs for every Iowan worker.

President Trump promised a manufacturing revival in our country, and Iowa will be the first to deliver it. We restored R&D expensing and 100 percent bonus depreciation to rebuild domestic manufacturing, creating new jobs, and bringing investment back to our country and back to our State.

President Trump promised a strong economy and manufacturing dominance, and our big, beautiful bill delivers this for our country and for Iowans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank President Trump for that promise.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, the IRS MATH Act. I thank my friend from Illinois (Mr. Schneider) for working with me on this commonsense legislation.

Mr. Speaker, if the IRS finds a mistake on a tax return, such as when a taxpayer accidentally adds a zero to their reported income, the agency should clearly indicate that error to the taxpayer and explain why the refund is different than expected.

However, current notices do not explain or contain helpful information, leaving millions of taxpayers confused about how and when to rectify the issue with the IRS.

The IRS MATH Act ensures that the IRS clearly spells out errors on tax forms and helps taxpayers not only understand the mistake but also allows a challenge if they see fit.

Filing taxes is already burdensome and time consuming. We can improve customer service by promoting open and transparent communication between the IRS and the taxpayer when a tax error is identified.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work to simplify our tax filing system and push for full reauthorization of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act so that our families, farmers, and small businesses can keep more of their hard-earned money.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank Chairman Smith for allowing this bill to come to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, the National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for working with me on this initiative.

Since 2015, the IRS has prohibited the National Taxpayer Advocate from hiring her own legal counsel, which undermines her ability to provide insight, ensure fair treatment of taxpayers, and responsibly work with the IRS caseworkers.

American taxpayers expect and deserve the best customer service and case outcomes when filing their Federal taxes.

However, this outdated restriction on the National Taxpayer Advocate prevents her from hiring the team she needs to do her job.

My bill clarifies it is within the purview of the National Taxpayer Advocate to hire attorneys that report specifically to her. These attorneys help conduct oversight, ensure taxpayers are being treated fairly, and inform Congress of taxpayer challenges at the IRS.

This measure ensures we keep politics out of the IRS and solely focus on outcomes for the taxpayer.

With this improvement, American families will benefit from fewer headaches when dealing with the IRS and a more accountable government.

This bill itself is a recommendation from the National Taxpayer Advocate Purple Book and has been a recommended policy change for quite a few years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith, again, for working with me to make the IRS run smoother and to ensure taxpayers are being treated fairly.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.