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National defense matters

Local Columns

Q: Why is the national defense bill an annual priority? A: National security is the No. 1 responsibility of the federal government. For 65 years in a row, Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act that shapes defense policies, from nuclear weapons to cybersecurity, drones, troop pay and military construction. As customary, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees conducted a series of hearings throughout the year to dig into the details of the massive legislative package that forms the blueprint for America’s national defense. The $900 billion, 3,086-page ...

Q and A: Shoppers beware of online scrooges

Local Columns

Q: How concerned should holiday shoppers be about counterfeit products? A: Unfortunately, the season of giving is prime time for rip-off artists to worm their way into the wallets of American shoppers during the holidays. As co-chair of the Congressional Trademark Caucus, I lead an annual dialogue in December to raise public awareness about counterfeit products to help educate consumers, particularly during the holiday shopping season. Families work hard for their money and when buying presents for friends and loved ones, you don’t want to end up gifting them with imposter products ...

Bikes for Tykes brings cheer to kids

Editorial

These days, cars, pickups and SUVs share the showroom of Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota with an entirely different kind of wheeled vehicle. That vehicle is the bicycle. And there are a lot of them, maybe hundreds of them, in the showroom. But before long they will be going out the doors to be distributed to kids who would not otherwise get a bicycle of their own. The effort is called Bikes for Tykes. The annual Bikes for Tykes drive has a simple mission: making Christmas merrier for youngsters. Each year hundreds of new bicycles are donated so that children in families facing ...

No one should feel like they’re facing winter alone

Local Columns

There’s a certain point every year when the temperature drops, the sky turns that particular shade of gray, and we all look around and think, “Welp … here we go.” Winter in Iowa — at least this year — isn’t subtle. It just shows up and sticks around. And with winter comes a whole new set of questions, worries, and honest conversations I hear from folks around Webster County. People want to know how the roads are going to look. They want to understand the plan for plowing, sanding, and keeping everything moving. They worry about getting to work, getting kids to school, and ...

Lowering costs for Iowa small businesses and taxpayers

Local Columns

When I’m traveling across Iowa, I’ve had important conversations with Iowans from communities large and small about how we can make life more affordable for our families, farmers, workers, seniors, and small businesses. From health insurance to housing to grocery bills, I’m working with President Trump and my Republican colleagues to lower costs and ensure that Iowans can keep more of their hard-earned money — just the way that it should be. Affordability is a top priority for me as Iowa’s voice in Congress. One way that we can help Iowans keep more of their paycheck is by ...

A thank you for a job well done

Editorial

During a big winter storm such as the monster that dropped 13.5 inches of snow on Fort Dodge recently, lots of people like to stay inside, sipping their favorite hot beverage while they watch the white stuff pile up outside. But one group of people goes out in every storm, and the work of these unsung heroes makes it possible for everyone to travel in snowy conditions. They are the men and women who drive snowplows. They are employed by the Iowa Department of Transportation, counties and cities. Their mission requires them to maneuver big trucks and sometimes, motor graders and ...