I have been working hard to reduce the rising costs of energy on Iowans.  Today, the cost of gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane has reached historic levels and is a huge burden on family budgets.  Washington and Congress have been an absolute failure on this issue.  They have provided no leadership to lower the price of gasoline by a single penny.

While Democrats and Republicans continue to blame each other and point fingers I am working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to devise a strategy that secures America’s energy independence today and tomorrow.

Today America is too reliant upon energy from unstable foreign nations that do not have the best interest of Americans at heart.  I believe that in order for America to become truly energy independent, we must utilize all of our domestic resources to reduce this costly problem.  My plan includes encouraging energy conservation, accelerating the use of renewable sources that I have worked to support in Congress like, ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar and other sources of alternative energy. 

However, even as a long time supporter of renewable energy sources, I know they are not mature enough to provide immediate relief in gasoline prices for those who drive long distances in rural Iowa or offset the costs associated with production agriculture. This reality highlights the need for continued investment in these areas.  Currently, federal prohibitions, driven by special interests in Washington, are in place preventing commonsense access to oil and natural gas reserves in land and offshore located in and near our own country.  By lifting these prohibitions and accessing these valuable resources in a safe and environmentally responsible manner we can begin reducing the costs of family energy bills from electricity to the price we pay at the pump. 

Prior to this year’s flooding in the Midwest, Iowa’s economy was in better shape compared to the U.S economy as a whole.   However, high energy costs, an increase in price of food and other necessary staples have contributed to the overall rise in the cost of living taking more and more from family budgets.

I know that many Iowa families are struggling to make ends meet and are facing tough decisions and economic challenges. 

I am working with Democrats and Republicans to enact policies to assist Iowans in combating the higher costs of living such as gasoline, rising home mortgages, food and other family staples. 

I am working to create good paying jobs and make certain existing jobs remain in Iowa and I am helping support education and training programs to attract new employers that will keep our economy growing.  I am committed to keeping taxes on Iowa families low because I believe that Iowans know better how to spend their hard earned dollars than federal bureaucrats.

I have been a strong supporter of reducing taxes on the middle class and I will continue to cut taxes by eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax; a tax that is strangling more middle class taxpayers each year.

Today, approximately 67% of new jobs in America are attributed to small business. However, costly and complex federal regulations continue to burden small businesses and entrepreneurs threatening economic growth and job creation.  To combat this I have authored legislation to create a program within the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center to provide free regulatory compliance counseling.  It would provide Iowa small businesses an important financial break from spending the thousands of dollars to comply with these services each year.  Businesses would instead be free to use the funds to expand and grow their workforce.  My legislation will also provide training, technical assistance and educational activities to assist small businesses in dealing with other burdensome and costly federal requirements. 

I firmly believe that we must provide affordable universal access to health care for every child, woman and man in America.  In Iowa we know all too well that a strong health care safety net is essential to ensuring a quality lifestyle.

I have spent a great deal of time listening to Iowan’s opinions about, and concerns with, healthcare and taking that information to craft solutions.  A common theme in almost every discussion centers on cost and accessibility.  Iowa families are concerned with rapidly increasing healthcare costs and the options available to them.  Medical and prescription bills are expensive and a growing number of Iowans do not have adequate health insurance.

The United States has the highest quality healthcare in the World.  In order to ensure America’s healthcare quality is not diminished, it is imperative we do not turn over our healthcare system to bureaucrats in Washington, DC.  Instituting a bloated government run healthcare system would create obstacles coated in red tape that would reduce the quality and access to preventative care and treatments.

I have introduced comprehensive legislation in Congress that will strengthen health care quality, access, and options for Americans in rural states like Iowa. The legislation is based in large part on roundtables, meetings and listening sessions I have held with Iowa nurses, physicians, health care professionals and private citizens over the past year and a half.

I am committed to working with my colleagues — regardless of political party affiliation — to develop and implement policies that provide all Americans with access to quality, affordable health care. I support policies that reduce health care costs while maintaining health care quality and providing American’s with choices when it comes to affordable long-term care.

I believe that any individual who desires a college education should be provided with the resources and assistance to attain their goals.  I supported the College Opportunity and Affordability Act which will increase the maximum authorized Pell grant for low-income college students from $5,800 to $9,000 annually.  The federal Pell Grant program is the single largest source of assistance for post secondary education.  The grants are awarded to low-income individuals and do not have to be repaid. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act also seeks to help students by streamlining the financial aid application process, makes textbook costs more manageable for students, strengthens college readiness programs, increases college aid and support programs for veterans and military families and ensures equal opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities.

Because I believe that our veterans should be given the resources to achieve their educational goals in life I am an original co-sponsor of bi-partisan legislation in Congress which completely overhauls and nearly doubles the nation’s G.I. Bill education benefits. The Post 9/11 Veterans’ Educational Assistance Act closely resembles the educational benefits provided to veterans returning from World War II.  The bill modernizes and increases the benefits available to veterans to address the reality of rising tuition costs and increased deployment of the National Guard and Reserve units. This legislation was signed into law on June 30, 2008 as part of an appropriations bill.

Because a quality education is one of the best investments we can make in our future generations of leaders I support policies that will provide federal assistance to state and local governments but limit the federal role in our local education.  I firmly believe that local communities and parents know best when it comes to the educational needs of their children.

I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure Iowa’s students have every tool available to them to expand their education and fulfill their educational and professional goals.

The conflict in Iraq has divided our country, regardless of political affiliation, and many people have changed their opinions about the justification to go to war.  Few will argue that the conflict has been largely defined by the mistakes and miscalculations made by our civilian leadership in charge of our military and intelligence agencies.  However, I am encouraged with the reduction of violence in Iraq, which is a direct result of new strategies employed by our commanders in the field. 

At the conclusion of the conflict in Iraq, how the United States and its coalition partners leave and the condition in which it leaves the country will be the most significant decision made since troops crossed the border of Kuwait in 2003.

I believe the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein and battle against the insurgency has been fought with incredible valor and skill by our men and women in uniform. Since the conflict in Iraq began, Congress has been working to keep up with the needs of our soldiers overseas with every tool and resource they need to successfully accomplish their mission while also taking care of those returning – forever changed by the experience.

As a farmer and agribusinessman, I know how important agriculture is to Iowa’s economy.  I bring a unique perspective of my lifetime involvement in agriculture and family farming to Washington when it comes to issues involving agriculture.

Since I was first elected to Congress I have consistently advocated for the small family farmer and Iowa’s agricultural economy.  I have fought, and will continue to fight, against policies that limit the ability for first time and small farmers from entering and competing in the marketplace.

As a senior member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have worked to fund important programs that assist physically disadvantaged farmers such as the Agribility program, and I am supportive of government programs that set aside a portion of their resources to assist young and first time farmers.

I take pride in my work to ensure that resources are available to America’s Land Grant Institutions, such as Iowa State University, which play an important role in agricultural research.  I also led the effort to modernize the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, which is one of USDA’s largest research facilities tasked with conducting tests and research to keep Americas food supply safe.

Throughout our nation’s history people seeking shelter from tyranny, oppression, famine, terror and turmoil have found a better life for themselves, and their families, in America. The diversity and contributions immigrants have made to the American culture and economy should not be ignored.

I am a strong proponent of giving access to the American Dream to those around the world through legal immigration. From its founding America have established laws for its citizens and visitors. We live in a land ruled by law, and no man, woman, illegal immigrant or employer is above the law. Those who wish to ignore or break these laws by entering America illegally should be held accountable and should not receive preferential treatment. I will always remain opposed to illegal immigration.

Recent events in Iowa and nationally have increased the national debate on immigration. I believe that at the present time America’s system of immigration is completely and utterly broken.

There is also a terrible sadness that is created with a broken system of immigration. Families are ripped apart. Small businesses lose money and lay people off. Local governments struggle to maintain basic services. Our rural towns can’t afford large economic hits. People who knowingly present falsified information, and employers who look the other way, are doing an incredible disservice to their communities, to the State of Iowa, and to our great nation. When their failures come to light, we all suffer.

The stark reality is that years of neglect and enforcement of our immigration laws have created a broken system of which there is no easy fix. Until we have a system in place where everyone complies with the laws that exist on the books today, improvements cannot be made to the current situation. It must take an effort by both parties, Republicans and Democrats, to work together to achieve a common-sense plan to fix the issue of immigration.

Moreover, any immigration plan must ensure the security of our homeland and economy with strong reinforcement of our borders.