Abby Finkenauer

Limit vertical integration of the dairy industry and regulate to protect the 'ag of the middle'.

Protect the grants that are currently available, and allocate them to better serve nonprofits.

I would ask that you all invest in a model that is proven to work--apprenticeships.

We should explore new ways to help farmers access the capital they need to not only invest in the land and equipment but offset some production costs when they are first starting out.

The increasing cost of production, low commodity prices, again, exacerbated by this ongoing trade war coupled with unpredictable weather patterns... have made it difficult for farmers

To ensure the continued success of American agriculture, we must facilitate the transfer of skills, knowledge, and land between this generation and the next one

Our way of life continues to be at risk given what we have seen in the past 20 years

I encourage this Committee to continue its important work to hold drug companies accountable and bring down costs for patients through common-sense, bipartisan legislation.

No one should have to choose between retiring in dignity--or keeping their home--and affording the medicine that allows them to live a full life.

In Iowa, agriculture contributes to over $9 billion annually to our State GDP and accounts for most of our top exports.

I know how important agriculture is to our way of life in Iowa and that farmers are quite literally the backbone of our economy.

The law was not negotiated in a bipartisan manner. It was put together far too quickly. It disproportionately benefits those in the top 1 percent and it will add, again, trillions to our national debt here.

I did not realize the amount of unintended consequences it created until I started hearing from people in industries that have suffered.

Your rhetoric that you have been spewing against unions and also your record against working families is disappointing and, quite frankly, offensive.

I am proud to now be a sponsor of the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.

You see, I will never forget February of 2017, standing on that State House floor after days of hearing testimony from my friends, my family, and my neighbors in my home State who are just working their tails off to provide for their…

I have to tell you, I have done some research while I have been up here and, again, your rhetoric that you have been spewing against unions and also your record against working families is disappointing and, quite frankly, offensive.

It prevents States from attacking public employees' collective bargaining rights like they did in Iowa.

Thank you. And thank you again everybody for being here today. And as a 30-year-old who is also still paying off student loans myself, first generation college grad, I grew up in rural Iowa, so much of what has been said today I hear it…

One of the things I would like to try to figure out here is if there are ways to incentivize folks to be able to move back to rural areas and start their careers and start their families while also paying off those student loans.

We have to note that student debt is far from the only barrier that prevents private practice for doctors today.

We must make it easier for small businesses to compete in the global market, especially at a time like this.

I know firsthand that for our small businesses and our farmers, the ability to access new markets and export goods promotes economic success at home and in our communities.

As we look to expand apprenticeship opportunities to meet the needs of our economy, we cannot do it at the expense of worker protections and the quality of training.

You highlighted what we can be doing to move forward and keep our family farmers afloat when they are facing a great deal.