For the last three years, the Biden administration has been defined by reckless government spending, rising prices, and crushing red tape and regulations. These misguided policies have fueled inflation and harmed our economy – making life unaffordable for our families, increasing operating costs for our main street businesses, and stifling investment in American jobs and manufacturing. Unfortunately, President Biden’s only “solutions” call for more government intervention in the economy and more government mandates to advance his agenda at the expense of American families and businesses. This, of course, is the wrong approach.
During the month of December, House Republicans took action to overturn President Biden’s burdensome mandates on Iowa families, farmers, and small businesses in order to spur economic growth and combat inflation.
First, we voted to nullify the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) expanded enforcement of Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires community banks to collect and report excessive amounts of unrelated personal and financial information from small businesses seeking to take out a loan. This misguided rule would inundate business owners with mountains of paperwork, restrict access to affordable capital for small businesses, and violate basic privacy protections by requiring banks to report every detail of every loan they originate – ultimately forcing businesses to close for good.
On my 36 County Tour, I have met with countless small business owners who are struggling from inflation, high interest rates, and economic uncertainty. Like I warned when President Biden and Democrats in Congress approved trillions in new expenditures, reckless government spending would hurt our families, farmers, and rural main streets. Those predictions have unfortunately come true. The CFPB’s small-business data-collection rule would only make matters worse for our main streets, which is why I voted to eliminate this regulation.
Second, we advanced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act, which would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator from implementing or enforcing a proposed EPA rule requiring 67% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032. President Biden’s obsession with electric vehicles is not only costly for Iowa families, but also beneficial for countries like China that produce the critical materials that we need to manufacture EVs. With the passage of this legislation, we rightfully remove power from the EPA and return it to American consumers who should be able to choose the type of car or truck they prefer to drive. The Biden administration’s preferences should have no influence.
If President Biden truly cares about reducing emissions, he must embrace Iowa biofuels – like ethanol and biodiesel – that can lower gas prices for our families, end our reliance on foreign supply chains, and protect our environment. I will continue to oppose President Biden’s hasty transition to electric vehicles and instead advocate for year-round E-15 and flex-fuel vehicles.
Finally, we passed a congressional resolution overturning the Biden administration’s latest student-loan forgiveness scheme, which would cost American taxpayers roughly $559 billion. Iowans who never attended college, entered the workforce early, or helped put their kids through school should not be forced to pick up the tab for President Biden’s expensive and unfair student-loan bailout. The Supreme Court already ruled his plans unconstitutional, and this effort is no different. As inflation and sky-high interest rates crush family budgets and reduce the purchasing power of every dollar earned, my vote to end blanket student-loan forgiveness represents my commitment to Iowa taxpayers and my unyielding opposition to reckless government spending and waste.
Restoring American economic prosperity and lowering costs for our families, farmers, and businesses begins with ending the Biden administration’s destructive federal mandates. As a strong, fiscal conservative, I remain committed to this mission on behalf of American taxpayers.
