Instead of my usual thoughts on policy debates or various pieces of legislation that I have either introduced or supported, I decided that I wanted to share a week in my life representing our families, farmers, workers, and businesses on Capitol Hill. The week spanning from Monday, April 7, to Friday, April 11, encapsulates a good snapshot of what a typical week looks like for me representing Iowa in Congress.

On Monday, I spent most of the day meeting with my fellow Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee as we work to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act beyond its expiration at the end of this year and deliver tax relief to our families, farmers, workers, and small businesses. I also voted for two pieces of legislation to support our veterans. One will address the prevalence of bile duct cancer in Vietnam veterans, and the other will ensure veterans receive clear communications from the VA on how to claim the benefits they have earned in service to our country.

On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on lifting Americans out of poverty and ensuring that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — better known as SNAP — is being used for families truly in need. During the hearing, I talked about the importance of work and highlighted my bill with Rep. Dusty Johnson from South Dakota to ensure that able-bodied Americans without children either work or pursue work-related training or education for at least 20 hours each week if they receive SNAP benefits. Americans who can work should work if they want to receive taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits. That isn’t too much to ask. I have also introduced legislation to cut down on overpayment of SNAP benefits, which costs American taxpayers more than $10 billion every year. This is just another common-sense approach to cutting waste and restoring integrity to the SNAP program.

Throughout the day on Tuesday, I also met with Polaris to discuss trade issues, sat down with New York Life insurance agents, visited with the North American Equipment Dealers Association, and welcomed the Iowa Bankers Association to our office to talk about my bill — the ACRE Act — which would lower the cost of farm and home loans in our rural communities. Additionally, I attended a roundtable discussion with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which centered around the urgent need to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and make permanent pro-growth tax provisions that support agriculture, domestic manufacturing, and our business community.

On Wednesday, I voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, legislation that would restore the constitutional balance of powers and limit the ability of district court judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, district court judges have issued nationwide injunctions preventing President Trump from advancing his America First agenda. There is no reason that activist judges whose authority does not extend nationally should be allowed to completely stop President Trump’s agenda. The will of the American people matters, and the American people voted to restore prosperity and greatness unhindered by far-left court decisions.

That same day, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer about striking trade deals that benefit our country. I specifically emphasized the need to open new export markets for Iowa agriculture, and the importance of looking all over the world — from the U.K. to India to Kenya — for new trade opportunities for our farmers and producers. I also met with the Iowa Pork Producers Association to discuss the Farm Bill, foreign animal disease prevention, and California’s egregious Proposition 12 mandates on our hog farmers; caught up with the Federation of Exchange Accommodators to talk about protecting 1031 exchanges that allow our small businesses to grow and our farmers to pass their farmland onto the next generation; and sat down with the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard Stephen Osborn about the urgent need to replace the runway and construct an aircraft parking ramp at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City. Furthermore, I had the chance to meet with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States and discuss agricultural trade opportunities — like soybean and pork exports — between our two countries; met with the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau and Approved Insurance Providers to talk about my bill to lower the cost of crop insurance for the next generation of Iowa farmers and producers; and chatted with representatives from the Iowa Motor Truck Association to discuss our shared commitment to support our nation’s truckers. In between votes, I also met Laura Chen from Ames, who won our Congressional App Challenge last year.

On Thursday, I voted for a budget resolution unlocking the ability to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, secure tax relief for Iowans, and deliver President Trump’s full America First agenda of border security, energy independence, and fiscal responsibility. I also voted to ban illegal immigrants from voting in our elections and ensure that states like California clean their voter rolls of noncitizens. Additionally, I introduced legislation to reauthorize the Genome to Phenome Initiative, which supports research into plant genetics, like corn, to determine how to increase yields and make crops more resilient.

On Friday, I took some time to meet with my staff to go over legislation that I’m working on to support agriculture, cut taxes for our families, grow our economy, and open new export markets for our farmers and producers. I also had the chance to review mail from constituents and read the ideas, concerns, and suggestions of Iowans.

I will continue to serve our families, farmers, and small businesses to the best of my ability, and work to pass thoughtful policies that benefit our communities, state, and nation.

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District.