Feenstra

Last week, 250 Iowa National Guardsmen returned home. These brave men and women exemplify the very best of our state, and we remain eternally grateful for their service. Their homecoming is a powerful reminder of the duty and sacrifice our servicemembers and their families make for our nation. It is our responsibility to care for our veterans, support our military families, and equip every servicemember for success as they defend our freedoms.

When President Trump returned to the White House, he made it clear that America’s strength begins with a strong military. That means putting our troops, veterans, and their families first. After years of a disastrous Biden Administration that resulted in in a 40-year recruitment low, President Trump focused on readiness, accountability, and delivering real results for the brave men and women who defend our freedoms and make America so great.

I proudly voted to support the Iowa Air National Guard to ensure they have the infrastructure necessary to safely and successfully complete their missions. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act secured language authorizing repairs at the Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City – the home of the 185th Air Refueling Wing. This ensures that these projects are eligible for funding that will protect nearly 1,000 jobs, promote continued economic growth in the region, and strengthen our national security. We also worked to improve military readiness, cleared onerous red tape to modernize our military, and provided our troops with well-deserved 3.8% pay raise.

Under President Trump, the Department of Veterans Affairs has processed a record three million disability claims, opened 25 new clinics, permanently housed more than 51,000 homeless veterans, and reformed home loan protections to help prevent foreclosures. Congress also passed provisions that benefit veterans, such as enhanced healthcare funding, expanding mental health and suicide prevention programs, and support for veteran-owned small businesses that fuel our Main Streets.

Caring for our veterans is just as important as ensuring the safety of our troops. That’s why I supported the Protecting Veterans Access to Telemedicine Services Act, to permanently allow VA doctors to prescribe medications via telehealth – an essential lifeline for rural Iowa veterans who may not have VA clinics easily accessible. I voted to pass the PRO Veterans Act into law to strengthen VA budget transparency to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used to improve the delivery of benefits and services to veterans. Further, the House of Representatives passed the ACES Act to study cancer rates among veteran aircrew and the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act to reduce red tape and speed up access to earned benefits.

Importantly, the Iowa delegation came together to introduce legislation to honor the two national guardsmen, Sergeant Nate Howard of Marshalltown and Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines, who were murdered in a terrorist attack in Syria. The Iowa National Guard Heroes Commemoration Act, would rename two Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in their memory. The VA clinic in Des Moines, will be renamed the ”Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic” and the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department in Marshalltown will be named the ”Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic.” I’m grateful to help lead this important piece of legislation and ensure their legacy of service endures. My thoughts remain with the Gold Star Families of Sergeant Howard and Sergeant Torres-Tovar and the men, women, and families of the Iowa National Guard.

Less than one percent of Americans serves in uniform, and only about six percent of our population are veterans, this small but extraordinary group has volunteered to carry the burden of protecting our freedoms and continue to risk their lives. I will always fight to ensure they receive the respect, resources, and care they deserve. By putting our servicemembers and veterans first, we are keeping our promises to those who defended our nation.

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Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth District in the U.S. House.