Mariannette Miller-Meeks · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Remembering September 11, 2001

2026-09-03

“I remember September 11. A plane flew into a tower. I thought it was a prank. More planes crashed. People never made it home. We were sad together. Now I think about the families. We all agree to never forget.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, ordinary people kissed their families good-bye and went to work. As I went to work after making my children's lunch, I heard on the radio that a plane had flown into Tower One and thought it was a prank. By the time we turned on the TV in our waiting room, we saw the second plane hit the tower and knew we had a terrorist attack, our generation's Pearl Harbor. Among them were a father who called his wife just to say ``I love you'' one more time; a mother who tucked a photo of her kids into her bag that morning; an Iowan who was in his second week at Columbia, who goes down to volunteer and then enlists in the military; firefighters who ran upstairs while everyone else was running down because that was simply who they were. Nearly 3,000 of them never made it home. In the quiet that followed, in the ash, in the silence, something happened that I still carry with me. Strangers became family. We held each other. We cried together. For a moment, we forgot everything that divided us. I enlisted in the Army to ensure rights for everyone, regardless of whether they disagree with me. Now, 25 years later, I still think about the families who set an extra place at the table that will always be empty, the children who grew up without a parent. Their grief became our grief, and it still is. We promise to never forget. I will never forget them. I will always defend them. Those who harm us, we will not forget.

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House of Representatives

Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act

2026-07-20

“I want to talk about a bill. My friends and I support this bill. The government spends too much money. People in Iowa have to be careful with money. The government should be too. The government spends lots of money on projects. Some projects cost more than we thought. Some projects are late. I want the government to tell us when that happens. The people should know how the government spends their money. That is why I support this bill. My friends and colleagues should support this bill too.”

Official Congressional Record

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Burlison for yielding me time and for his support of this important legislation, H.R. 1722, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act. I also offer special thanks to my fellow Iowan, Senator Joni Ernst, who is leading this bill in the Senate. She has been a true champion when it comes to exposing Washington's waste and protecting the hard- earned dollars of the American people. Madam Speaker, Washington's worst-kept secret is its prolific spending problem. Families in Iowa and all across this country have to balance their checkbooks every single month. They budget. They plan, and when money is tight, they make it work or they do without. Washington should be held to that very same standard, especially at a time when our national debt is inching toward $400 trillion. However, instead of accountability, we get boondoggles. Take Governor Newsom's high-speed rail in California. It was supposed to cost $33 billion and connect Los Angeles to San Francisco by 2020. Today, it is more than $95 billion over budget and years behind schedule. After more than a decade and billions of taxpayer dollars, they are only now beginning to lay track, and the promised line between Los Angeles and San Francisco is nowhere in sight. What the people were promised and what they got are two very different things. However, it is not just California. In Honolulu, a rail project is $4.8 billion over budget, with its completion slipping from 2020 all the way to 2031. In Columbus, a corridor project is 19 years behind schedule. The Federal Reserve's renovation ballooned to nearly $2.5 billion. Air Force One is billions over budget and years behind. The VA's electronic health records system, meant to serve our veterans, tripled from $16 billion to nearly $50 billion. Madam Speaker, these are not rounding errors. These are betrayals of the people who have paid for them. That is why I introduced the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act. It is simple. It requires the Federal Government to publicly disclose any taxpayer-funded project that is more than $1 billion over budget or more than 5 years behind schedule. No more hiding and no more burying the failures where no one can find them. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant. Here is the truth: The American people have a right to know where their money goes. Every dollar Washington wastes is a dollar taken from a farmer in Iowa, a nurse working a double shift, or a young family trying to get ahead. I did not come to Washington to protect its comfortable habit of wasting taxpayer money. I came here to defend the people who pay the bills. This bill puts them front and center where they belong. I thank Senator Ernst once again for her partnership, and I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation. The people of Iowa are watching. The people of America are watching. Let's give them the transparency they deserve.

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House of Representatives

Congratulating Pella High School Marching Dutch

2026-07-14

“I want to cheer for a bill. It is called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. It is now law. I think it is a big deal. It will let builders build more homes. It will stop some big companies from buying up homes. More homes for sale will lower prices. That will let more people buy a home. More young people should be able to afford a home. Right now it is hard for them. I blame that on a shortage of homes. I want my voters to know I am fighting for them.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the Iowa families who have been priced out of the American Dream. Across this country, the average first-time home buyer is now 40 years old, an all-time high. In contrast, I purchased my first home as a young captain in the Army at age 22. Our Nation is short as many as 5.5 million homes. The share of first- time home buyers has fallen by one-half since 2007. Iowa families feel this every single day. Young couples work hard, save diligently, and still cannot afford a home in the communities they grew up in. Rental prices have increased, as well. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act changes that. It cuts the red tape strangling home construction, so we build more homes and lower costs for buyers and renters alike. It stops big Wall Street firms from buying up single-family homes because Iowa homes belong to Iowa families, not hedge funds. This is the most significant housing reform in a generation, and it is now law. To every Iowan chasing their first home, help is on the way. The American Dream is worth fighting for, and I will never stop fighting for my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend a birthday greeting to the oldest of seven siblings, Richard Miller. Happy birthday, Richard. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend birthday greetings to the youngest of my seven siblings, MariEleanor Martino. Happy birthday, MariEleanor.

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“I celebrate a sheriff from my district. The Senate confirmed him to be a U.S. Marshal. He has worked in law enforcement for a long time. He started programs for disposing of medicines and for active shooter training.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Sheriff Robert Rotter, who was recently confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa. Sheriff Rotter joined the Iowa County Sheriff's Office in 1990 and has dedicated more than three decades to public service. Before his nomination, Sheriff Rotter was serving his fifth term as the Iowa County Sheriff, earning a reputation for leadership, service, and commitment to the people of Iowa County and Iowa. Throughout his career, Sheriff Rotter has remained dedicated to keeping our communities safe. As Iowa County Sheriff, he spearheaded a program to properly dispose of expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications, preventing drugs from falling into the wrong hands. He also initiated a countywide active shooter program that helped train over 1,500 students, teachers, and industrial and retail employees. Sheriff Rotter's hard work, leadership, and commitment to protecting others have earned him this amazing opportunity to continue serving our State and Nation. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Sheriff Rotter and thank him for his dedicated service to Iowa County and Iowa.

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“I want to celebrate a high school band from my district. The students went to Washington, D.C. They could not march in the parade because it was too hot. But the students made the most of the trip. They played a pop-up performance and visited many famous places. The band teaches students many skills. I have seen this myself because my children were in band. Our community supports the band program. The students work hard and represent our state well.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pella High School Marching Dutch on their trip to our Nation's Capital for the 250th National Independence Day celebration. Led by 21-year band director Dameon Place, the Pella Marching Dutch includes 225 talented high school students. Participation in the band gives students the opportunity to develop leadership, discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence that will serve them well after graduation. I know this firsthand because my children participated in band and orchestra. While the Independence Day Parade was, unfortunately, canceled because of the extreme heat, the students made the most of their once- in-a-lifetime trip. They adapted and played a special popup performance at the Upper Senate Park, allowing visitors to experience this talented Iowa band. They also attended the National Symphony Orchestra's Fourth of July concert and fireworks, visited our Nation's iconic monuments, and explored the Smithsonian museums. Our community in Pella is extremely supportive of its band program. These students work hard, represent Iowa with pride, and demonstrate the positive impact school music programs have on our youth.

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