Helping families is top priority

One of my top priorities in Congress is to help families in Iowa and across the country. I believe strong families are the foundation of a strong country, and I know there is so much more we can do to make it easier to raise a family.

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Any mom will tell you: pregnancy and raising kids is beautiful, but it’s demanding physically, emotionally and financially. Between doctor’s appointments, child care bills, extra-curriculars, putting food on the table and trying to keep life on track for your entire family, moms today juggle more than ever.

And far too often, moms are expected to figure it out alone.

That’s why I’m working to pass several pro-family bills that provide moms real support and help when it matters most:

Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. This bill would ensure young women on campus know their rights and available resources, from flexible class schedules and excused absences to child care assistance, so they never feel pushed out of school or told abortion is their only option.

Midwives for MOMS Act. I worked across the aisle to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which would expand midwife training in rural and under-served communities to close gaps in maternal care. More trained providers mean healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and stronger families.

Supporting Healthy Pregnancy Act. Lastly, I’m excited to have introduced a bill that would require biological fathers to cover at least 50% of pregnancy-related medical costs so moms aren’t left to foot the bill.

Doctor visits, lab tests, ultrasounds and hospital fees add up fast, and too many moms pay everything alone. Supporting moms shouldn’t start after the baby is born. It should start the moment she sees the positive test.

More engaged dads lead to happier, healthier kids, and having an involved dad does wonders for a kid’s well-being.

At the heart of each of these bills is a simple belief: moms deserve support, families deserve stability and women should be empowered to create the best future for themselves and their families

Supporting our troops

This week, Congress passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act — the yearly bill that sets our military’s budget and security priorities. So what does this mean for Iowans?

It helps carry out President Trump’s peace through strength agenda and gives troops a well-deserved pay increase for their service.

It updates and strengthens our military equipment, boosts counterterrorism efforts., counters the CCP’s malign influence and cuts wasteful DEI programs.

I’ll keep working to support our incredible troops and ensure our military is equipped to defend and protect America.

I was honored to attend the activation ceremony for the Iowa Air National Guard’s newest unit, the 133d Combat Training Squadron. Their mission strengthens our nation’s cyber warfare capabilities and ensures we are prepared for evolving cyber threats.

It was wonderful to visit with our troops. I am so grateful for their service and am incredibly proud of the role Iowa continues to play in defending America.