Abby Finkenauer

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

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.

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…

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.

One of the things that keeps me up at night, and I am sure many of you as well, are the long-term effects of what has now become a very long drawn out trade war process.

I have watched firsthand the last few years as retaliation from the current trade wars has caused unease, uncertainty, and economic losses across the heartland.

Small businesses--which I like to remind folks are also our farmers--make up 97 percent of U.S. exporters.

I am committed to fighting like hell to make sure I am doing everything I can to preserve that way of life.

It is vital we retain access to new and expanding markets, but also use our economic power to ensure that the American worker and our farms and businesses are competing on a level playing field.

Wages have basically been stagnant in the State of Iowa for the last 10 years.

As a result of a cancelled flight and circumstances out of my control, I was unable to cast a vote on March 25, 2019 on a bill under suspension of the rules. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 1616. ____________________

With 95 percent of the world's consumers living outside of the United States, small businesses are missing out.

Trade should help us export goods but also protect our workers and our communities.

I do really think we have a real opportunity here to rebuild our infrastructure in a way that is more resilient to severe weather, less harmful for our environment, and includes solutions that actually reduce greenhouse gases.

I know one of the challenges for rural businesses and farmers is the trade war started on Twitter.

our working families and our small businesses should never be used as bargaining chips when it comes to policy decisions.

This shutdown hurt Iowa's families and our farmers, which are quite frankly the lifeblood of our economy in rural America.