Less than one month into the New Year, President Biden’s administration threw allies, energy security and homegrown American jobs under the bus. You might wonder how the White House managed to do that with just the stroke of a pen. At President Biden’s direction, the Department of Energy effectively froze the approval process for American companies to export U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). That misguided decision is a political calculation that puts close European allies in a bind who desperately want to buy American gas to break their dependence on Russian energy.
Biden’s disastrous LNG pause reminds me how out of touch too many decision makers are inside the Beltway, from regulating fugitive dust to mud puddles on farms. After all, Washington is an island surrounded by reality. That’s why three years ago I invited the Biden administration’s Climate Czar, Gina McCarthy, to Iowa to witness what the real world is like. At the time, McCarthy had stated, “We have to get the middle of the country understanding and active on climate. We have to show them what resilience looks like.” I now invite the White House to read my recent Iowa View in the Des Moines Register to learn about our state’s long history in energy resilience.
Washington’s tone deaf comments and out-of-touch policies resurrect an elitist mindset exposed in 2008 by then-presidential candidate and Illinois senator Barack Obama. Recalling visits to small towns in the Midwest, Obama accused Americans of embitterment and said they “cling to guns or religion.”
That disconnect between coastal elites and Americans in the Heartland breeds distrust and contributes to the cynicism and divisions in civic life. As Iowa’s senior U.S. Senator, I work hard to bridge those divides and put in the work to make myself accessible and hold myself accountable to my constituents, whether in person, by email, phone, postal mail or social media.
Since Iowans first elected me to the U.S. Senate in 1980, I’ve made it a priority to keep in touch. My approach to representative government is based on a fundamental premise: representative government is a two-way street. It’s not my way or the highway. I’m one-half of representative government and Iowans are the other half. This month, I’ll launch my 44th consecutive year holding my 99 county meetings across Iowa. Holding Q&A’s in every county, every year is a privilege and a priority I’m honored to continue on behalf of Iowans. A number of officeholders and presidential candidates have emulated my tradition. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. To be sure, I don’t continue the so-called Full Grassley to add a feather to my cap; I truly want to know what’s weighing on the minds of my constituents. I continue this tradition to hear directly from Iowans, face-to-face, in every corner of the state. Meeting people where they work, live, raise a family, or own a small business builds trust and bridges divisions that have coarsened civic engagement in recent years. With intention, I hold Q&A’s in a variety of settings, in addition to town hall meetings. For example, by going to hospitals, high schools and factory floors, I’m able to hear from workers and students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend a meeting during the middle of the day. Meeting with Iowans in all 99 counties ensures I hear points of view from a cross-section of people across the state. I bring those views and values to the policymaking table in Washington.
As I head out this month for the 44th year holding my 99 county meetings, I’m all ears to hear what’s on the minds of Iowans. This is how the rubber meets the road in my mission to make the government work for the people, not the other way around. This is not just a “weird throwback” to days gone by. I won’t throw in the towel to polarization and division, because I have great hope for America. Iowans are what inspire that hope. That’s why I’ll continue working to build consensus, solve problems and strengthen the American Dream for generations to come.
