Thanksgiving Day took root in our nation’s history as a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer” when George Washington issued a proclamation in 1789, calling upon freshly minted Americans to celebrate ratification of the Constitution and coalesce around the bounty of hard-fought freedom. ...
This holiday season, will you shop at one of the 33.2 million small businesses that make up 99% of all businesses in the U.S? Up and down rural main streets in rural America, shopkeepers are readying their stores for the season. Business owners are stocking special gifts and rolls of wrapping ...
Events recently in Chicago and Washington and at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport provide stark reminders that our nation’s leaders have seemingly forgotten a biblical command around for the ages. It is one Robert Ray followed during his tenure as Iowa governor, which ended some 42 years ...
It was maybe a happy coincidence last week that while I was following the news about Trump’s soybean deal with China that I also happened to tune into the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) weekly “lunch and learn” on Facebook. Amid so much uncertainty, not just for farmers but all of us in rural ...
Q: Why did you hold a Judiciary Committee hearing to examine consolidation in the farm sector? A: As the only grain farmer in the United States Senate, I’m honored to advocate on behalf of family farmers who are wrapping up the harvest season and looking ahead to next year’s crop. Today ...
In recent years, the U.S. has shifted to using a wider mix of energy sources located across the country. These resources help make our electric grid stronger, keep power flowing during disruptions, and create new jobs and business opportunities. However, a sharp increase in energy demand is ...
Among the many legendary boasts attributed to the great boxer Muhammad Ali (also known as “The Louisville Lip”), is a little-known taunt he made during his three-year exile from professional boxing after his refusal to serve in Vietnam on religious grounds: “That boy ain’t nothin’ to ...
It’s been a while since I’ve issued a Legislative Newsletter. It’s been a busy summer. As Fall arrives, I am beginning to work on legislation for next session along with the usual constituent work. Of course, there are also the hot issues that arise at any time of the year, and I am ...
The Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign has not spared the U.S. agricultural industry, with agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement frequently raiding farms across the country in search of undocumented workers. Now, farmers are facing a crisis the administration has ...
Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! October is a time to celebrate those with Down Syndrome and all they bring to our world. It is also a reminder of the importance of inclusion and the beauty of embracing differences. Down Syndrome is one of the most common genetic conditions, affecting one ...