Grit, hard work, faith drives family farms

Iowa’s farmers are the backbone of our state and the heart of America. Last week, I visited Brenneman Family Farm in Kalona, where I saw firsthand the grit, hard work and faith that drive family farms.

These visits remind me why I fight every day in Congress to protect the people who feed and fuel our nation.

It’s why I strongly support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extends the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and raises the estate tax exemption, ensuring the next generation can inherit a family farm or small business without having to sell it just to pay the inheritance tax.

While some family farms may hold significant value on paper, most families simply do not have the cash to cover the crushing inheritance taxes. They are land rich but cash poor, and when the farm is passed down, families are often forced to sell off land, equipment or even the entire operation just to satisfy the IRS.

We cannot let that happen. Farming is already one of the toughest, most high-risk industries, and Washington should be helping, not punishing, the families who keep Iowa’s agricultural economy strong.

I am grateful to President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me in supporting Iowa’s farmers. Together, we are fighting to ensure that generational family farms are protected, rural communities are strengthened, and Iowa agriculture remains a national leader.

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As I travel across Iowa, I hear the same message from farmers everywhere: they aren’t asking for handouts. They are asking for fairness. They want to keep what they’ve built, reinvest in their operations and pass their farms on to the next generation without fear of being taxed out of existence.

In Congress, I will continue to stand with our farmers and fight for policies that help them thrive. Iowa’s farm families deserve leaders who understand their challenges, honor their contributions, and deliver results.

When our farmers succeed, Iowa succeeds — and America is stronger for it.

Remembering the military

I was honored to join hundreds of fellow veterans and their families at Rock Island National Cemetery for a solemn Memorial Day ceremony, paying tribute to the fallen heroes who gave everything for our country.

I was honored to join the Bettendorf Memorial Day Ceremony to pay tribute to the heroes who gave everything for our freedom. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Honored to join D Company, 1-133rd Infantry in Davenport for their deployment send-off. We are proud of these brave soldiers and grateful to their families. Iowa stands with you!

Proud to stand with Sen. Joni Ernst and Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer in Davenport to honor the 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion. These brave soldiers make Iowa proud, and we are grateful for their service and sacrifice.

Proud to be at the send-off for Iowa City’s Company B, 133rd Infantry Battalion. These courageous men and women represent the best of Iowa, and we stand behind them every step of the way.