The American dream feels out of reach

There was a time when working hard meant you could afford a home and put down roots for your family. Today, that’s no longer the case for many working families. Rent is up, interest rates are high and the American dream of homeownership feels out of reach for an entire generation.

This is why I was supportive of the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act, which I’m excited to share passed the House this week. Our bipartisan housing package cuts red tape, makes it easier to build homes, expands access to financing and ensures veterans and vulnerable families aren’t boxed out of home ownership.

Increasing the supply of housing is a key step to make owning a home more affordable, but there’s more work to do. I’ve also introduced bipartisan legislation to help families save tax-free for a down payment on their first home.

Working Americans deserve a fair shot at home ownership again, and I’ll keep working across the aisle to make it happen.

The fight against cancer

I’ve heard from many Iowans who are concerned about rising cancer rates. Many of us have been personally impacted or have family or friends living with a diagnosis. My own family knows this pain — I lost my aunt and my grandma to this horrific disease.

I applaud Gov. Reynolds for making important investments at the state level, and I’m committed to doing my part in Washington to ensure we are doing all that we can to prevent and treat cancer.

That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle to increase access to health care in our rural communities and provide Iowans the best chance to beat cancer and other diseases.

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I recently helped introduce the CATCH IT Act, bipartisan legislation that improves access to preventive health equipment like mammography systems, mobile cancer screening units, early detection tools, CT scanners and diagnostic ultrasound equipment because early detection saves lives.

Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, we secured the single largest investment in rural health care, establishing the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund.

These funds will be used to combat cancer and promote long-term innovation in rural communities. I will continue working relentlessly to ensure every Iowan, regardless of ZIP code, has access to quality health care.

Many thanks to the folks from the United Auto Workers for stopping by my office to talk about ways we can invest in Iowa workers.

I also got the chance to welcome Iowa Special Olympics to Washington! Their stories were truly inspiring. We had a great conversation about supporting athletes and ensuring inclusive programs thrive.