With just about two weeks left in the 115th Congress, I remain determined to deliver solutions and results on the issues Iowans are facing. Still on the to-do list is finishing the Farm Bill and funding the people’s government for Fiscal Year 2019.
I’ve been working with my colleagues for months to help finalize the Farm Bill and ensure provisions I authored are included in the final version.
My bill, the WATER Act, was included in the recently released Farm Bill - which is a compromise between the House and Senate versions. It will help improve soil health and further water quality practices by improving research and creating an easy to use and publicly accessible database so farmers and conservationists can see what practices work best on various types of soil and topographies.
Another one of my bills, the STRESS Act, was also included in the Farm Bill. Agriculture workers take their lives at a rate higher than any other occupation and the STRESS Act provides resources for those who are struggling.
The Farm Bill also includes policies strengthening our rural communities which have been a priority of mine in Congress. It authorizes substantial funding for conservation practices, rural development, broadband and infrastructure. This is desperately needed so our rural areas have the communication tools and resources they need to help them thrive.
Included in the Farm Bill was the creation of a Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The liaison is responsible for coordinating federal projects and goals aimed at reducing food waste and educating the public about efforts to reduce food waste. Currently, 40 percent of our food is wasted somewhere along the food supply chain and the liaison will work with those in the private and non-profit sectors already on the ground to help find solutions to this problem.
Our farmers need certainty so they can plan for the future and make the right investments. I remain committed to working with anyone to finish the Farm Bill before the end of the year.
Our Constitution requires the Congress to set priorities in funding our federal government. As Iowa’s only voice on the Appropriations Committee in either the House or Senate, I’ve worked to bring Iowans’ tax dollars back to Iowa. Through grant programs, federal partnerships, and investments in rural priorities and communities, I’ve been able to deliver for Iowans in the Third District.
Earlier this year, I worked to pass the STOP School Violence Act. This new law provides funding for schools to purchase additional security measures to keep our students and teachers safe, such as hiring a school resource officer or purchasing security equipment, such as locks, monitoring cameras, and metal detectors. The bill also provides funding for mental health and behavioral counseling for students.
And Iowa schools are benefitting. Creston Community Schools was just awarded a $500,000 grant by the Department of Justice to enhance security at their facilities because of this new law. The school will install systems, controls, and upgrades to help keep students and teachers safer.
This is just one example of how programs I have supported and worked to create are benefitting Iowans. As I work to finalize government funding for this Fiscal Year 2019, I’ll continue to look for the best ways to help Iowans and ensure their government is working for them.