Since 2022, more than 100 million birds have been impacted by bird flu – scientifically known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) – which is a contagious disease that is extremely fatal for domesticated turkeys and chickens. Of those over 100 million birds, nearly 25% have been in Iowa– making our state the epicenter of this crisis while devastating producers, destroying flocks, and impacting entire communities.

Q: What made you start doing your annual 99 county meetings?

When 96-year-old Marilyn Maye entered the Pearson Lakes Art Center stage, she got a standing ovation from a crowd that was so glad she is still coming to Okoboji each summer to entertain us. A tradition that began back in 1957, the New York City cabaret singer can still belt out a song better than Ethel Merman. She can also still kick up her heels. She is amazing!

At the end of 2025, pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family tax policies authorized by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire. These provisions include the nearly doubled standard deduction for Iowa families, tax cuts for small businesses, investment incentives for our farmers, manufacturers, and job creators, and other tax items.

Q: What are your favorite traditions at the Iowa State Fair?

Entertainer Dave Rowley has gathered a few of his musician friends together to play a gig at the Pearson Lakes Art Center each summer for the past 20 years. On Tuesday evening, Aug. 13, they took to the stage in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre for their 21st and final show.

Strong families are the foundation of strong communities. As a husband and father of four, it is important to me that we advance policies that strengthen families and support children, especially those in need. That’s why – during my time in Congress – I have worked as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee to uplift our families and support our children.

Q: How are you working to address affordable child care for families?

The staff and students of the Summer 2024 season at Okoboji Summer Theatre have shown us for six consecutive weeks that there has been much talent and even more desire to give the audience the best they can in a live theatrical production.

This week’s seventh and final show of the summer has everything in one big package. “The Music Man” written by Iowa native Meredith Wilson about River City, a small Iowa town, teaches us to believe in each other and ourselves.

At the end of July, our national debt officially topped $35 trillion. This development comes just seven months after our country surpassed $34 trillion in debt and less than a year since our national debt eclipsed $33 trillion last September. As a father of four, I firmly believe that we have both a moral and financial obligation to our children and grandchildren to enact real reforms that begin to reduce our exploding national debt and restore fiscal sanity to Congress.

The International Overdose Awareness Day 2024 theme is ‘Together we can,’ focusing on every individual action. Drug overdose is a national health crisis fueled by the opioid epidemic. Every community across Iowa has been impacted in some way.  

I went to opening night of this week’s Okoboji Summer Theatre show knowing that I have always enjoyed the music of Frank Sinatra but learned a lot about just how large his influence was and still is in the music world. If you didn’t care that much about his music before the curtains opened, you were enjoyably enlightened by the time the curtains closed.

Politically, the last month has been historic, culminating in the selection by the Republican Party of Donald Trump to be their presidential nominee and the expected nomination by the Democratic Party of Kamala Harris. However, the historical landmark will undoubtedly be the July 24 speech by Joe Biden.

2024 Bikes-Brews-Bites celebration a big success

Q: What is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)?