DC Broadcast: Iowa lawmakers mark Small Business Week

Iowa lawmakers this week celebrated Small Business Week, focusing on small businesses, crime prevention and foreign policy.

Ernst introduces a trio of bills focusing on small businesses

Late. Joni Ernst introduced three bills this week aimed at supporting small businesses in celebration of Small Business Week. Two of them seek to eliminate fraudulent certifications in government contracts for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and women.

Under the bills, agencies could only take credit for contracts awarded to small businesses certified as owned by women or service-disabled veterans. Federal agencies that fail to meet targets for contracting with women-owned small businesses must testify before Congress.

“There are no real consequences if federal agencies fail to meet their goals of supporting women-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Failures have become routine,” Ernst said in a statement. “As departments continue to take credit for contract awards to ineligible businesses , I am fighting to bring accountability to federal contracts.”

The third bill would require agencies to consider the direct and indirect impact of any new rules on small businesses and demonstrate that the rules are consistent with existing laws. If regulators do not comply, then small businesses would be exempt from the agency’s rules.

“For too long, federal bureaucrats have ignored the concerns of our job creators and the negative impact their many regulations have on hard-working small and family-owned businesses,” Ernst said.

Iowa’s congressional delegation celebrates Small Business Week

Most of Iowa’s congressional delegation tweeted celebratory remarks for Small Business Week.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks also gave a speech on the House floor honoring Iowa’s 2023 SBA Small Business Person of the Year, Aaron Warner:

As we continue to celebrate #NationalSmallBizWeekI was honored to recognize Aaron Warner, CEO of @procircularon the House floor to be named Iowa’s 2023 SBA Small Business Person of the Year. pic.twitter.com/j1Hd99hNA4

— Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (@RepMMM) May 2, 2023

Happy #NationalSmallBizWeek to the 273,623 #Iowa small businesses!

➡️Follow along this week where I highlight remarkable #SmallBiz across Iowa.

I am proud to serve them and all of our small businesses as #RankingMember of @SmallBizCmteGOP. pic.twitter.com/rKVE2Mav0g

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) 1 May 2023

It’s National Small Business Week! Our Main Street businesses are the backbone of our economy and the heartbeat of our Iowa communities. I will continue to support policies that help our Main Street job creators thrive! pic.twitter.com/grSaWwFnYj

— Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) 1 May 2023

Senators Introduce Violent Crime Prevention Act

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was among the senators who introduced the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act.

The bill prioritizes the investigation and prosecution of leaders of criminal organizations. It aims to strengthen “evidence-based and data-driven intervention and prevention initiatives” and directs 30% of funding to existing regional law enforcement task forces. The bill also includes provisions focused on improving communities’ ability to respond to opioid overdoses.

Co-sponsoring the bill were Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Deb Fischer of Nebraska; Democratic Senators Gary Peters of Michigan, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Chris Coons of Delaware and Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California is also a co-sponsor of this legislation.

“I am proud to sponsor this comprehensive approach to crime-fighting, which includes a provision honoring the fallen Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith. We owe it to our constituents and law enforcement to pass this bill immediately,” Grassley said in a declaration.

Feenstra sponsors bills targeting crimes against police

Rep. Randy Feenstra co-sponsored the Protect and Serve Act of 2023, which creates federal penalties for crimes targeting law enforcement agencies.

“Criminals who deliberately attack and assault police and law enforcement officers must be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Feenstra said. “I am proud to support the Protect and Serve Act to protect those who wear the badge and put their lives on the line to protect our families and communities.”

Grassley leads national security bills

Grassley and Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, co-chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced Baltic Security Initiative Acta bill that would “reinforce and strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics,” according to a press release. Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona introduced a bill in the House.

“The three Baltic countries are staunch NATO allies who stand resolutely on the side of freedom, having experienced the alternative in living memory. They have gone above and beyond to help Ukraine fight back against Putin’s war and are among America’s closest friends in Europe,” Grassley said. “We should be working to strengthen the ability of our frontline allies to defend themselves and deter potential aggression. Our bill will ensure that is the case.”

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jacky Rosen of Nevada are all co-sponsors.

Also this week, Grassley and Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, co-chairs of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, sent a letter to Xu Xueyuan, China’s top diplomat in the capital. The letter calls on China to “expand its information sharing on the flow of unscheduled chemicals and designer precursor chemicals, strengthen enforcement of established agreements on proper labeling of international chemical shipments, and implement customer due diligence standards to prevent illegal diversion of these precursor chemicals,” according to a press release.

“The Chinese Communist Party knows full well that its deadly chemicals are being used by Mexican cartels to infect our country and poison our citizens. It’s an evil plan that kills thousands of Americans every year, including 471 Iowans lost in 2021 alone , Grassley said.”Anyone who participates in these deadly businesses should be held accountable.”

Feenstra is co-sponsoring bills to repeal federal housing agency rules

Feenstra co-sponsored the Free Market Mortgage Act of 2023, a bill that would repeal new Federal Housing Finance Agency rules that would increase mortgage payments for homeowners with higher credit scores and redistribute those funds to people with low credit scores, according to a news release.

“Americans who have responsibly saved to buy a home should not be forced to foot the bill for someone else’s mortgage,” Feenstra said in a statement.