Weekly Wrap Up
Honoring Fallen Service Members in Afghanistan
Friend,

The loss of American and Afghan lives this week is heartbreaking and infuriating. Thirteen U.S. service members and over 90 Afghans tragically fell victim to the horrific terrorist attacks in Kabul on Thursday.
 
President Biden's failure of leadership in Afghanistan is to blame for these casualties, and it is past time for him to put the safety of Americans first instead of bending to the will of our enemies. The President needs to send a clear message to the Taliban: we are not on their timeline. We should not leave Afghanistan until every single American is home and every Afghan ally is given safe passage out of the country.
 
Iowans, like all Americans, have a lot of questions about this catastrophe. President Biden, and every single person in his Administration involved with the decisions made in Afghanistan, should be brought before Congress to answer to the American people.
 
I am so grateful to every American hero who has answered the call to serve in Afghanistan and secure our homeland over the past 20 years, as well as the past two weeks. God bless our troops.

Best,
Thoughts on the $3.5 Trillion Spending Package
I am extremely disappointed that the $3.5 trillion budget resolution, authored by Senator Bernie Sanders and pushed by Speaker Pelosi, passed the House this week. This package raises taxes and dramatically increases government spending, disrespecting every Iowan and American taxpayer, and that is why I fought it at every turn.
 
This package extends government into every aspect of our lives, forcing Iowa taxpayers to foot the bill for policies they don't support. The price tag is unacceptable, with an estimated $17 trillion added to the federal debt, the next generation, and the generation after that, will be forced to pay for this reckless spending spree.
 
The cost of living is already at a record high thanks to excessive government spending. Spending $3.5 trillion more in dollars we don’t have will only drive prices up further and increase the inflation tax on hardworking families. Additionally, this package paves the way for the death tax, an unfair tax that would cripple family farms across Iowa and rural America.
 
I strongly opposed this $3.5 trillion tax and spending spree and will continue fighting the blank checkbook mentality in Washington – you work hard for your paycheck and it is critical that your tax dollars be accounted for and respected.

Flood Mitigation in IA-01
Ensuring our communities are prepared for potential flooding is a top priority for me in Congress. I'm continuing to work with my fellow Members of Congress, national experts, and local stakeholders on flood mitigation and prevention efforts. This week, I brought the Executive Director of the American Flood Coalition to meet with the Iowa Flood Center and Northeast Iowa Resources Conservation and Development (NIRCD) at one of their field sites in West Union. We saw NIRCD's innovative flood mitigation practices first hand and learned more about the groundbreaking research and field work being done in Iowa to help our community prepare for future flooding and protect against potential damage.
Independence Main Street Tour
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and a top job creator in Iowa. It was great to do a walking tour of Main Street in Independence (Buchanan County) to hear from small business owners about both their exciting successes as well as their serious challenges throughout the past year. The big issues I continue to hear about from main street shops are the need for more employees, the rapid rise of prices, and the fear of tax increases.
 
In Washington, I've co-sponsored legislation to make tax cuts for small businesses permanent so that they have the certainty necessary to hire more workers, grow their operations, and continue contributing to our local economy. I will always fight for small businesses and workers in Congress!
Policy Update: A Win for Border Security
This week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden Administration must reinstate the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy. This is an important step towards ending catch and release and securing our border, as well as a victory for the rule of law. When President Biden reversed the Remain in Mexico policy, it turned on the green light for illegal immigrants to attempt the trek across the Southwest border, knowing they would have a higher likelihood of being able to stay in the U.S. illegally. As the crisis at our border continues to worsen, it is critical that we return to policies that worked at our border instead of encouraging illegal immigration as the Biden Administration has done.
2021 Congressional App Challenge
Calling all middle and high school students! My office has started to accept submissions for the 2021 Congressional App Challenge. The Challenge is specifically designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science and is open to all middle and high school students in IA-01.
 
Visit Hinson.House.Gov for more information and submission details.
ICYMI: Social Media & Headline Highlights
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