Mr. President, during my 12 years in the Senate, I have exposed many outlandish examples of government waste. For example, I uncovered that Washington sent nearly $500 million to China to pay for everything from poetry projects to dangerous research on bats. Another $870 million of U.S. taxpayer money went to Russia. This includes more than $770,000 from the National Institutes of Health sent to a state-run lab in Russia to put cats on treadmills. How did I uncover these crazy trails of money to our foreign adversary? It is quite simple.
2026 MidtermsOpen SeatR+13$2.0M raised
Joni Ernst
Senator · Iowa · Republican
Joni Ernst
Senate Floor
Recent comments in the Senate
We had the Cy-Hawk game just 2 weekends ago. Unfortunately, my Cyclones fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes. But God bless Coach Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa Hawkeyes. It was another great game for all of Iowa. Mr. President, I am here today to talk a little bit more about our national and economic security of the United States. This has really been the focus of my career--protecting that national and economic security.
I can appreciate the dilemma that many of us are in as we debate these very important bills, and they are very important bills. So what I have in front of me here at my desk is a list of 59 House bills that have been passed this Congress. They are H.R. bills. They are H.J. Res. 140; H.R. 7147--59 House bills that have already passed through the Senate in this Congress. Now, I understand that we all have ways that we have to use leverage. I completely understand that. As a matter of fact, the bill that I had passed through this Chamber, you know, I would love to have it as an S.
Biography
Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, was elected as the U.S. Senator from Iowa in 2014. Drawing on her military experience, she focuses on strengthening national security, supporting Iowa farmers, and advocating for government accountability. Ernst authored the "Squeal Act," targeting wasteful government spending, and serves on key committees including Armed Services and Agriculture. She is known for her pragmatic approach and for amplifying rural voices in Washington, consistently engaging with constituents to address their concerns.
Education
- M.P.A., Columbus State University, Columbus, GA1995
- B.S. in Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA1992
Professional History
U.S. Senator
2015–PresentSenator from Iowa. 2 terms.
Member, Iowa Senate
2011–14Auditor, Montgomery County
2005–11
Policy Focus
Government Operations and Politics12%
Commerce6%
Armed Forces and National Security5%
Health4%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Joni Ernst's record in Congress.
Combatting Sexual Assault in the Military
Co-led the passage of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act to reform how the military handles sexual assault cases.
E15 Year-Round Sales
Secured EPA approval for year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel, supporting Iowa’s corn and biofuels industries.
Support for Veterans
Championed the HAVEN Act, protecting veterans’ disability benefits during bankruptcy proceedings.
Flood Disaster Relief Funding
Helped secure federal disaster relief funding for Iowa communities impacted by severe flooding in 2019.
Committee Assignments
View details →- Senate Committee on Small Business and EntrepreneurshipChairman
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Senate Committee on Armed Services
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Sen. Joni Ernst FAQ
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