Revitalizing Rural America: Capitol Solutions

Statement

Too often the bureaucracy and mindset of Washington, D.C. leaves rural America behind. From unworkable and unnecessary regulations to a lack of appropriate funding for critical projects, Americans and Iowans in rural areas seem to have been forgotten by the federal government.

As I travel across the Third District meeting with Iowans, holding town halls, and listening to folks' stories, I gather their triumphs, struggles, solutions, frustrations, and concerns to carry with me to Congress and work on real solutions to the issues Iowans are facing.

To advocate for you and ensure your voice is heard, I met with Director Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget on January 18. Director Mulvaney is responsible for drafting President Trump's budget proposal, and approving rules and regulations.

While we wait for the administration to put forward a plan to revitalize and rebuild our nation's infrastructure, I want to make sure Iowa gets the attention and investment it needs to grow and thrive. While we have much needed repairs to our roads, bridges, and railways, we also have levees, locks and dams we rely on to get goods to markets and improve our rural economies.

I'd like to see a real commitment to rural America and make sure rural Iowa is wired-up so Iowans have access to reliable and fast internet service. Doing so will help bring job creators to our communities, grow the economy, and ensure our schools can use education resources online and have the same access to information and services as folks living in urban areas.

I also spoke with Director Mulvaney about how necessary it was to ensure U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects on the Des Moines River are prioritized. These projects are critical to the economic development and transformation of Des Moines.

Another area needing the Army Corps' attention is the M&P Levee District in the deep southwest corner of the state. While I was proud to work to help secure funding to assist with emergency preparedness, the Army Corp must continue working with the community to protect the area from floods and mitigate costs.

We also discussed ways to improve your government with more accountability and transparency. When I introduce a bill, propose an amendment, and vote on an issue, I put my name on it for all to see. However, when agency bureaucrats write rules and regulations, no one really knows who wrote it or if the author is even qualified. A bureaucrat from Los Angeles who's never been to Iowa and has a background in urban planning might not be the best person to be an author of a rule on water quality which basically has the same effect as a court ruling or law. We don't really know who is writing rules and regulations which we have to follow in our lives but we need to know who is writing them.

This is why I introduced the Regulatory Fingerprints Act. It requires federal agencies to publish the name and title of each officer or employee who wrote and participated in the rulemaking. My bill also requires agencies to show their legal authority for making such a rule or regulation. I asked Director Mulvaney for the White House to support this legislation to ensure a more transparent and accountable government.

Every day I look for ways to bring Iowa common sense to Washington, D.C. so folks in the Third District, from Randolph to Milo, can get the support they need and be able to thrive without having to cut through mountains of red tape. Working with Director Mulvaney and the administration is an important part of ensuring rural America is not left behind. I was proud to share with the Director the stories and ideas I hear from my bosses -- the folks of Iowa's Third District -- and I'll continue working with this administration or anyone in Congress to move these solutions forward.

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