Columns
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Just recently, I was catching up with a friend from Montgomery County who confessed she had been having a difficult time balancing both her job as an essential worker and her...
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February 19, 2021
Joni Ernst: Radical Policies from Coastal Elites Hurt Rural America
Just last month, President Biden raised eyebrows when he took executive action to begin transitioning federal government vehicles to electric vehicles. It followed a similar move... -
February 12, 2021
Joni Ernst: Follow the science and data: get kids safely back in school
At a press conference this week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki moved the goal posts once again—claiming that the Biden Administration’s aim is to have more than 50 percent... -
February 06, 2021
Joni Ernst: President Biden’s Actions Ignore His Calls for Unity
On January 20th, I joined my colleagues on the front steps of the Capitol for the inauguration of our forty-sixth president, Joe Biden. At a time when divisions run deep within our... -
February 05, 2021
Joni Ernst: $15 minimum wage is the wrong path for Iowa
As many Iowans can relate, hard work was a part of life when I was growing up. There were no shortcuts on the family farm in Southwest Iowa. It was expected of you to pull your... -
February 05, 2021
COVID and women – their careers, businesses at risk if we don’t reopen soon. Here’s how.
By Senator Joni Ernst and Carrie Lukas Coronavirus and the economic shutdowns have affected everyone – but it hasn’t impacted everyone equally. Women... -
January 29, 2021
Joni Ernst: Let’s pass Sarah’s Law to help restore justice in our broken immigration system.
Last September, my daughter Libby celebrated her twenty-first birthday. While the pandemic halted any large-scale birthday plans, I was glad that she and a few of her friends at... -
January 27, 2021
Joni Ernst: Biden must heed the threat Iran poses
We have a lot going on in our homeland right now, and, as always, our adversaries around the world are watching closely. Over the past month, Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism,... -
I know a thing or two about pigs, and one thing is for sure — they stink. Pork was taken off the menu (temporarily, I guess) a decade ago after years of politicians...
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January 22, 2021
Joni Ernst: During Difficult Times, National Guard Soldiers Are Always Ready, Always There.
Always Ready, Always There—that’s the motto of the National Guard, and during this challenging past year, they’ve certainly lived up to it. Since the outbreak of the... -
December 30, 2020
Joni Ernst: As we head into the New Year, I will always put Iowa first.
2020 has presented unique challenges for folks all across our state. The global pandemic coupled with a devastating derecho has been tough, but through it all we’ve witnessed the... -
December 19, 2020
Joni Ernst: For Our Servicemembers, “Invisible Wounds” Often Present the Greatest Challenges
Iowan Brandon Lay was a hero—not just as a Marine serving two tours in Afghanistan—but also as someone who dedicated his time and energy to helping fellow veterans suffering from... -
December 11, 2020
Joni Ernst on the NDAA: Protecting troops, saving tax dollars, and maintaining our national defense.
On Monday, we recognized 79 years since the horrific attacks on Pearl Harbor—a day that will live in infamy—which led the United States to join the Allied forces in what would... -
Earlier this week, Moderna asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize use of its COVID-19 vaccine after reporting 94 percent efficacy in its trial. This comes...
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For the past six years—since Iowans first elected me to the United States Senate—I’ve completed my annual tradition of visiting each and every one of Iowa’s...
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November 20, 2020
Joni Ernst: Recognizing the Sacrifice of our Military Families
Last year, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, I joined a congressional delegation trip to visit U.S. troops, including Iowans, deployed in the Middle East. As a former company... -
Service is more than just a word to me. It’s a part of who I am. At 19 years old, at Iowa State University, I joined the Army ROTC program. I went on to spend more...
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October 23, 2020
Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley: Clear Out Unused Medicines on National Take-Back Day
Do you have unused medication from last year’s harvest prescribed to treat back pain still in the medicine cabinet? Or, perhaps diabetic test strips piling up or pain pills... -
October 21, 2020
Sen. Joni Ernst: Sarah’s Law Is About Justice
Sarah Root had just graduated college when she was struck and killed by a man who entered the country illegally and was driving drunk—three times over the legal... -
October 16, 2020
Sen. Joni Ernst: Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a role model for girls and shows US women have great freedoms
We are wrapping up a historic event in our nation: the Senate confirmation hearing for 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett for a seat on the Supreme Court. If...