June 10, 2019

Ernst Week in Review

Delivering Disaster Relief to Iowans

Since the devastating flooding that began in March in Iowa, Senator Ernst has worked tirelessly for Iowans to get the disaster assistance they need. After Senator Ernst helped push the disaster aid package through Congress, on Thursday President Trump signed this important bill into law.

Click here or the photo above to watch Senator Ernst’s remarks on the disaster aid package.

The bipartisan disaster aid package includes an amendment Senator Ernst championed to provide assistance for Iowa farmers who lost their stored grain. Senator Ernst’s amendment would give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to cover the loss of on-farm stored grain.

Creating More Choice at the Pump with E15 Year-Round

After pushing the administration for years to lift the summer ban on gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15), Senator Ernst is celebrating with her fellow Iowans that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new rule to allow for the year-round sale of E15. Following through on President Trump’s promise and just in time for the summer driving season, this cleaner, more affordable fuel choice will provide Iowa consumers more choice at the pump!

Click here or the photo above to watch Senator Ernst highlight the benefits of year-round E15.

This is big news for Iowa. Expanded access to E15 will lead to an increased demand for corn, thus creating an economic booster for our state’s growers. Last week, Senator Ernst attended the opening of Elite Octane, a new ethanol plant in Atlantic, IA, one of many ethanol plants in Iowa that will benefit from this new rule.

Senator Ernst attends the opening of Elite Octane in Atlantic, Iowa.

Helping Iowa Students Succeed

Thursday was National Higher Education Day, and as a mother, Senator Ernst knows how important it is for Iowa students to have the best opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed, including considering higher education. As part of this effort, Senator Ernst continues to push for bipartisan solutions to give Iowa students and their families better tools to plan for the future and to address the growing student loan debt so many Americans face. KIOW covered Ernst’s efforts to help students and families plan for higher education.

Senator Ernst is championing six different bills designed to help prospective students and their families get the information they need about borrowing for school and to assist former students in paying off debt they’ve already accrued.

Celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the 19^th Amendment’s Passage

June 4^th marked the 100^th Anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment, which provided women in Iowa and across the country the right to vote. Senator Ernst, the first female elected to the U.S. Senate from the State of Iowa and the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate, joined her female colleagues on the Senate floor to commemorate this milestone, and to recognize the countless Suffragettes who fought tirelessly to pave the way for women in Iowa, and the entire nation, to have the right to vote.

Click here or the photo above to watch Senator Ernst’s remarks.

In addition, Senator Ernst partnered with her female Senate colleagues on a bipartisan resolution to celebrate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s passage, and honor the bravery and strength of the Suffragettes who led the way for women to have a seat at the table today, and for generations to come.