With each chambers of Congress now again in Washington after their vacation break, the Iowa delegation launched laws on biofuels, border safety, synthetic intelligence and extra. 

Home members additionally voted in a bipartisan style to expel a colleague, with all 4 of Iowa’s representatives voting in favor of the expulsion. 

Right here’s what Iowa’s lawmakers had been as much as this previous week:

Flex-fuel equity

Citing a risk to the supply of gas-powered autos for farmers, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks launched the Flex Gasoline Equity Act of 2023, which might handle how emissions are calculated in an Atmosphere Safety Company (EPA) proposal. The EPA proposal would apply extra stringent emissions requirements for autos made between 2027 and 2032. 

The invoice, cosponsored by Reps. Randy Feenstra and Ashley Hinson, would permit for estimating decrease common CO2 emissions in car fashions that may run on flex fuels. Decreasing the emission customary would “stage the taking part in area for autos operating on low-carbon liquid fuels,” in keeping with Miller-Meeks. 

“Flex-fuel autos present extra choices for shoppers and the U.S. provide chain and unlock elevated use of lower-carbon liquid gasoline blends containing larger ranges of ethanol, like E30 and E85,” Miller-Meeks mentioned in a information launch. 

The decided emissions of flex-fuel autos could be 31% decrease than a car that runs on simply gasoline below the proposed invoice, which might broaden the usage of flex fuels which are usually produced within the Midwest. 

Southern border focus

As a companion invoice to 1 Sen. Joni Ernst introduced in November, Hinson sponsored — and Feenstra, Miller-Meeks and Rep. Zach Nunn cosponsored — a invoice to authorize border brokers to fingerprint youngsters on the age of 14. The fingerprint information could possibly be used to find out if a toddler is being “recycled,” or trafficked throughout the border by individuals making an attempt to make it seem they’re a household crossing the border. 

The invoice, the Stopping the Recycling of Immigrants is Crucial for Trafficking Suspension Act would additionally create harsher penalties for these caught youngster recycling and would criminalize youngster recycling. 

“The Biden Administration continues to show a blind eye to the devastating border disaster their insurance policies have created – permitting youngsters to be trafficked, endangering People and jeopardizing our nationwide safety,” Hinson mentioned in a information launch. “In the meantime, they’ve deceived the American individuals in regards to the extent to which they’ve widened asylum loopholes and expanded catch and launch.”

Feenstra mentioned Biden has “empowered” drug cartels and human traffickers.

“Because of President Biden’s failed open-border insurance policies, he has empowered human traffickers, drug cartels and criminals to take advantage of youngsters for their very own private and monetary achieve,” Feenstra mentioned. “His radical agenda has additionally allowed hundreds of thousands of unlawful immigrants to cross our border and overwhelm our border patrol brokers with no penalties in any way. This chaos should finish.”

Hinson, joined by Feenstra, Nunn and Miller-Meeks, additionally launched the Southern Border Transparency Act, which might require a printed report of immigrants apprehended or paroled whereas illegally coming into the USA. The report would come with the result of the apprehension, together with departure or elimination.

SNAP overpayments addressed

By altering a reporting threshold, Feenstra is seeking to scale back the Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) overpayments by means of a companion invoice that’s tied to 1 Ernst launched in September.

Presently, SNAP overpayments or underpayments of $54 are thought of an error. Below the Snap Again Inaccurate SNAP Funds Act, the edge could be decreased to $0. 

States would face elevated legal responsibility for overpayments if discovered to be regularly having larger cost error charges. 

“As a robust, fiscal conservative, I imagine that Congress should do the whole lot attainable to guard taxpayer {dollars} from being wasted or fraudulently disbursed,” Feenstra mentioned in a information launch. “The unhappy actuality is that waste, fraud and abuse have turn out to be commonplace in our federal forms, weakening our already poor fiscal well being and forcing American taxpayers to choose up the tab.”

Ernst’s workplace reported estimated spending could possibly be decreased by practically $1 billion a month if the invoice had been to move. 

Overpayments in fiscal yr 2022 occurred at a charge of 9.84% nationwide, in keeping with the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Meals and Diet Service. 

Nunn on automated jobs

Automation, synthetic intelligence and different workforce automation applied sciences are changing some jobs, and Nunn launched laws that he mentioned will help handle the difficulty.

“Technological development is sweet for society, and if finished proper, will make all of our lives simpler,” Nunn mentioned in a information launch. “On the identical time, we should be certain that workforce adjustments don’t eradicate good paying jobs that Iowans depend on.”

Nunn expressed a aim to embrace know-how, utilizing automation as “a instrument to make work simpler, not an excuse to eradicate jobs.”

Nunn’s proposed legislation would conduct a workforce automation research assessing industries and occupations impacted by know-how and set up an advisory board comprised of state representatives, labor organizations, business representatives and non-profits to offer suggestions on automation within the workforce. 

Braces for weapons addressed in courtroom submitting

Ernst and Hinson joined an amicus temporary in courtroom case involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The temporary argues in opposition to a courtroom ruling that claims the bureau can reclassify pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles. 

These braces are sometimes utilized by disabled veterans, Hinson argues, and would negatively have an effect on gun house owners. 

“The Second Modification isn’t a suggestion, it’s a constitutional proper that have to be upheld,” Hinson mentioned in a information launch. “The ATF’s overreach impacts hundreds of thousands of gun house owners throughout the nation, notably disabled veterans, and unravels over a decade of authorized precedent.”

Grassley on presidential endorsements

Sen. Chuck Grassley has endorsed two presidential candidates throughout his time serving in Congress — the primary in 1996 when he endorsed former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, who misplaced, and once more in 2000, when he endorsed George W. Bush. 

In a name with reporters, Grassley didn’t provide an endorsement within the 2024 race or make any indication that he could be endorsing a candidate — however he did converse to the values he seeks in a candidate operating for the nation’s highest workplace.

Grassley mentioned he’s in search of essentially the most conservative candidate and somebody who “goes to observe the Structure and respect it, not like President Biden.” Particularly, Grassley mentioned Biden doesn’t implement legal guidelines on the border and lets individuals enter the nation illegally.

“And simply usually an all-around good individual, however you may’t accomplish any of the issues I need in an individual in the event that they don’t have the flexibility to win, so clearly you wish to choose any person who has been a winner,” Grassley mentioned.

In response to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touring all 99 Iowa counties, which he’s scheduled to finish Saturday in Jasper County, Grassley mentioned it will be good if each presidential candidate accomplished the tour, which he known as “the total Grassley.”

“It could be good if each one of many candidates did the total Grassley, as a result of Iowans should have an opportunity to see them of their hometowns, however that’s as much as the person’s selection,” Grassley mentioned in a name with reporters. “I feel it’s a great way to allow them to know that they’re severe about taking Iowa caucus voters severely.”

Grassley discusses the Farm Invoice

The Farm Invoice obtained a one-year extension, which implies work will proceed on drafting a brand new invoice to be applied in 2024. 

Grassley mentioned the Farm Invoice ought to be labored on from January to July and he expects little progress to be made on the invoice throughout September or October because of the presidential race. Grassley mentioned if the brand new invoice will not be completed by early August, it’ll seemingly be topic to a different one-year extension. 

As for any adjustments within the Farm Invoice, Grassley mentioned he’s advocating for some revisions, together with a cap on the sum of money a farmer can obtain from the farm program, which he mentioned wants to assist small- and medium-sized farming operations. The senator additionally mentioned he wish to have crop insurance coverage left alone, and see extra promotion of agricultural exports. 

Ernst and others write to DOE

Similarly to an October letter to the Division of Schooling, Ernst once more wrote to the division to demand that colleges be held to requirements established below Title VI. 

The October letter was associated to habits towards Jewish and Israeli college students at faculties and universities. The more moderen letter pertained to Ok-12 colleges. The October letter was co-signed by Grassley; the more moderen letter was not.

Within the letter, Ernst and 31 different senators particularly requested the division to offer steerage on sustaining secure environments and to debate information on anti-Semitic complaints. The letter cites cases of habits focusing on Jewish and Israeli college students, and requires the security of these, and all college students. 

“Dad and mom ought to really feel assured that their youngsters’s faculty will likely be secure and the main focus will likely be on schooling,” the senators wrote. “As a substitute, dad and mom are starting to worry that not solely is faculty not secure for his or her college students, however faculty officers are actively working to undermine the security of their youngsters. Dad and mom can not belief their college students are secure in the event that they worry faculty officers are key perpetrators in spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric.”

Home historical past: George Santos voted out by Iowa delegates

All 4 of Home members from Iowa voted Friday to expel former Rep. George Santos from the Home. 

The expulsion is the sixth in U.S. Home historical past. 

“Those that serve in elected workplace ought to be held to the very best attainable moral customary,” Nunn mentioned in a information launch. “George Santos in all probability couldn’t even discover the phrase ethics in a dictionary. He has repeatedly confirmed to be a con man, and there’s little question in my thoughts that he ought to be in jail, not the Home of Representatives.”

Miller-Meeks, in an announcement following her vote to expel Santos, mentioned she needs the Senate to conduct due course of and take into account expelling Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez from New Jersey. Menendez and his spouse have been charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly appearing as a overseas agent on behalf of Egypt. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania additionally known as for Menendez’s expulsion. 

On her Santos vote, Miller-Meeks mentioned, “I didn’t take this vote flippantly, however I imagine that we should act on our values and condemn the prison actions of George Santos, which aren’t befitting of a member of Congress.”

Nunn introduced plans to introduce laws that might eradicate pensions for Congress members who’ve been expelled. The announcement is scheduled to happen Monday in Des Moines. 

Sandra Day O’Connor reactions

Iowa’s delegates expressed fond emotions and recollections of Sandra Day O’Connor, who died Friday. 

“I’m saddened to listen to of the passing of former Supreme Court docket Justice Sandra Day O’Connor,” Ernst posted on X, previously generally known as Twitter, Friday. “As the primary lady to serve on our nation’s highest courtroom, she was a trailblazer for ladies throughout America. She will likely be dearly missed.”

In an X put up, Grassley wrote: “Unhappy information w the passing of former Supreme Court docket Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She was a trailblazer for the excessive courtroom & all the time labored to seek out consensus. She was 1st justice I had honor of voting for as senator. Her contributions 2 the courtroom will endure + she will likely be missed.”

Miller-Meeks posted to X, “I used to be saddened to listen to of the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. As the primary feminine Supreme Court docket justice, Justice O’Connor was a peerless champion for civic engagement and civic schooling, and her legacy will final for generations to return.”

Hinson posted to X, “Sandra Day O’ Connor – the primary lady to serve on the Supreme Court docket – was a trailblazer who paved the way in which for generations of feminine legal professionals and policymakers. She leaves behind an unbelievable legacy and will likely be deeply missed.”