Iowa

State Senators:

Joni Ernst (R)

Term Start: January 3, 2015

Full Name: Joni Kay Ernst
Date of Birth: July 1, 1970
Birthplace: Red Oak, Iowa, U.S.

Early Life and Education: Joni Ernst was born and raised in Red Oak, Iowa. She graduated from Stanton Community School District High School as valedictorian and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Iowa State University in 1992. She then earned a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University in 1995.

Personal Life: Joni Ernst is a divorced mother of one daughter and resides in Red Oak, Iowa. She is known for her dedication to public service and her advocacy for military personnel and veterans.

Early Career: Ernst served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard for over 23 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2015. She was deployed to Kuwait during the Iraq War from 2003 to 2004 as a company commander.

Political Career:

Montgomery County Auditor: Elected in 2004, served until 2011
Iowa State Senate: Elected in 2011, representing the 12th district until 2014. she focused on issues such as agriculture, veterans’ affairs, and budgetary discipline.
U.S. Senate: In 2014, Ernst was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman from Iowa elected to federal office and the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate. She was re-elected in 2020. Ernst is known for her conservative stance on issues including national security, agriculture, and fiscal responsibility.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee on Armed Services
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Ranking)

Legislative Achievements:

Veterans’ Affairs: Advocated for improved healthcare and benefits for veterans, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
Agriculture: Supported the 2018 Farm Bill, emphasizing crop insurance, rural development, and conservation programs
Defense: Championed policies to strengthen national security and support military personnel
Government Accountability: Promoted transparency and accountability in government spending

Senator Ernst is recognized for her military service and strong advocacy for veterans, national security, and agriculture. Her background as a combat veteran and local government official has shaped her legislative priorities and commitment to serving her constituents in Iowa.

Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee deals with agricultural economics, research, production, and forestry.

Armed Services: Oversees military operations, defense policies, and the Department of Defense, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee plays a crucial role in advocating for the needs of small businesses, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating an environment conducive to small business success and economic growth.

Voting patterns

Senator Ernst has a voting record that aligns with conservative values and priorities. Here are some key aspects of her voting patterns:

Defense and Veterans’ Affairs: As a military veteran, Ernst is a strong advocate for defense and veterans’ issues. She consistently supports legislation aimed at increasing defense spending, improving veterans’ healthcare, and enhancing benefits for military personnel and their families. She has backed bills like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to address opioid addiction among veterans.
Economic and Tax Policies: Ernst generally supports tax cuts and deregulation, aiming to stimulate economic growth and reduce government intervention in the economy. She has voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which significantly lowered corporate tax rates and provided tax relief for individuals.
Agriculture: Representing a state with a significant agricultural sector, Ernst supports policies that benefit farmers and rural communities. She has backed the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes provisions for crop insurance, rural development, and conservation programs. She also advocates for ethanol and biofuel production.
Environment: Ernst has a low score from the League of Conservation Voters, indicating a voting record that frequently opposes environmental regulations. She has voted against measures to limit carbon emissions and restrict fossil fuel usage, and she supports policies that promote energy independence, including the development of oil, natural gas, and coal.
Healthcare: Ernst opposes the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has voted to repeal and replace it. She supports measures to reduce healthcare costs through market-based solutions and increasing competition among healthcare providers. She also advocates for expanding access to mental health services and combating the opioid crisis.
Social Issues: Ernst holds conservative positions on social issues. She has voted to restrict abortion access and supports Second Amendment rights, opposing most gun control measures. She also advocates for policies that she believes will enhance public safety and security.

Senator Ernst’s voting record reflects her commitment to conservative values and priorities. She strongly supports defense and veterans’ issues, economic growth through tax cuts and deregulation, and policies benefiting agriculture. She frequently opposes environmental regulations and supports measures to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Her conservative stance extends to social issues, where she advocates for restricted abortion access and Second Amendment rights. Ernst’s legislative actions emphasize her focus on national security, economic development, and conservative social policies.

Full Name: Charles Ernest Grassley
Date of Birth: September 17, 1933
Birthplace: New Hartford, Iowa, U.S.

Early Life and Education: Chuck Grassley was born and raised on a farm in New Hartford, Iowa. He attended local public schools and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Northern Iowa in 1955. He later completed a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the same institution in 1956. Grassley also pursued doctoral studies at the University of Iowa, although he did not complete a Ph.D.

Personal Life: Chuck Grassley is married to Barbara Ann Speicher, and they have five children. The family resides in New Hartford, Iowa. Grassley is known for his rigorous fitness routine, which includes daily runs, and his active presence on social media, where he engages with constituents and shares insights into his work and life.

Early Career: Before entering politics, Grassley worked as a farmer and a sheet metal shearer. He also taught at Charles City College and worked for a time in the construction industry. His background in agriculture and small business informed his later political career. He also served as a legislative assistant in the Iowa legislature.

Charles Grassley (R)

Term Start: January 3, 1981

Political Career:

Iowa State House of Representatives: Grassley began his political career in the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served from 1959 to 1975. During his time in the state legislature, he focused on issues related to agriculture, education, and fiscal policy
U.S. House of Representatives: In 1974, Grassley was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa’s 3rd congressional district. He served three terms from 1975 to 1981, where he worked on issues such as government accountability and budgetary reform.
U.S. Senate: Grassley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, defeating incumbent Democrat John Culver. He has been re-elected multiple times, making him one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history. As a senator, Grassley has focused on issues such as tax policy, healthcare, agriculture, and government oversight. He is known for his commitment to transparency and accountability in government.

Committee Assignments:

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee on Finance
Committee on the Budget (Ranking)
Committee on the Judiciary
Joint Committee on Taxation
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control (Vice Chairman)

Legislative Achievements:

Whistleblower Protection: Known for his strong advocacy for whistleblower protections, contributing to legislation such as the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Agriculture: Supports various agricultural policies and farm bills, emphasizing ethanol production and renewable fuels.
Judiciary: Played key roles in judicial appointments and confirmation processes. He has been involved in major legislative reforms in criminal justice.
Finance and Taxation: Active in shaping tax policy, including contributions to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

In summary, Grassley is recognized for his work on tax reform, having played a significant role in the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He is also a strong advocate for rural healthcare and agricultural policy. Grassley has been a vocal proponent of whistleblower protections and has worked on numerous bipartisan initiatives to improve government transparency and accountability. His tenure as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee was marked by significant judicial confirmations and oversight investigations.

Senator Charles Grassley is recognized for his long tenure and significant impact on legislation across various domains, particularly in agriculture, finance, and judiciary matters. His dedication to public service and advocacy for transparency and accountability have been hallmarks of his political career.

Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:Committee deals with agricultural economics, research, production, and forestry.

Finance: Committee plays a crucial role in shaping the economic direction of a country or region by influencing fiscal and monetary policies that impact individuals, businesses, and governments.

Budget: Committee plays a central role in shaping the nation’s fiscal policy, ensuring that government spending and revenue collection are managed responsibly and align with economic priorities.

Judiciary: Committee plays a role in shaping the nation’s legal framework and ensuring the fair administration of justice. Its work impacts a wide range of issues, from the confirmation of judges to the protection of civil liberties and the enforcement of federal laws.

Joint Committee on Taxation: The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) is a nonpartisan committee of the United States Congress that plays a role in the legislative process concerning tax legislation.

United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Committee plays a role in shaping U.S. drug policy and enhancing efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse on both national and international levels.

Voting patterns

Senator Chuck Grassley has a notable and extensive voting record characterized by strong conservative positions. He has not missed a Senate vote since 1993, marking a perfect voting streak for over 25 years.

Key Voting Patterns:

Fiscal Responsibility:

Balanced Budget: Grassley is a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets. He supports measures to curb government spending, reduce the national debt, and implement budget reforms.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Grassley voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which aimed to reduce taxes for individuals and businesses, stimulate economic growth, and increase job creation.

Agricultural Support:

Farm Bill: Representing a largely agricultural state, Grassley consistently supports comprehensive farm bills that provide financial assistance to farmers, promote sustainable farming practices, and enhance rural development.
Agricultural Exports: Grassley advocates for policies that expand international markets for U.S. agricultural products, supporting trade agreements and measures that benefit American farmers.

Healthcare:

Affordable Care Act (ACA): Grassley has been a critic of the ACA and has voted to repeal and replace it. He supports market-based healthcare reforms that increase competition, reduce costs, and provide more choices for consumers.
Prescription Drug Prices: Grassley supports measures to lower prescription drug prices and increase transparency in drug pricing. He has worked on bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the cost of medications for Americans.

National Security:

Defense Spending: Grassley supports robust defense spending to ensure military readiness and national security. He consistently votes for the National Defense Authorization Act and other defense-related bills.
Border Security: Grassley advocates for strong border security measures, including funding for border wall construction and increasing the number of border patrol agents. He supports comprehensive immigration reform that balances border security with legal immigration pathways.

Judiciary and Legal Reform:

Judicial Appointments: As a former chairman and current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley has played a significant role in the confirmation of federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. He supports appointing judges who adhere to a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Criminal Justice Reform: Grassley has supported bipartisan criminal justice reform efforts, including the First Step Act, which aims to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation among federal inmates.

Social Issues:

Gun Rights: Grassley is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights and consistently votes against measures that would impose additional restrictions on gun ownership.
Abortion: Grassley identifies as pro-life and supports restrictions on abortion. He votes for measures to defund organizations that provide abortion services and supports legislation that protects the rights of the unborn.

Environmental and Energy Policies:

Renewable Energy: Representing a state with a significant renewable energy sector, Grassley supports policies that promote the development of renewable energy sources, including wind and biofuels.
Environmental Regulations: Grassley often votes against stringent environmental regulations that he believes hinder economic growth and energy production.

Senator Chuck Grassley’s voting record reflects his long-standing commitment to conservative principles. He advocates for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and agricultural support. While he opposes extensive environmental regulations and the ACA, he supports renewable energy initiatives relevant to his state. His influence in the judiciary and on social issues further underscores his conservative stance.