As we approach the end of the year and the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to express my thanks to the folks of Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. I’m thankful I have had the great honor of representing you in the United States Congress. It has been the most humbling experience of my life. There is nothing I enjoy more than traveling to each of the 16 counties in the Third District every month and speaking with you, your friends, and neighbors from all walks of life.
I’m thankful for our veterans who donned the uniform and served in defense of our liberties, and our service members who continue to bravely wear our nation’s uniform and put themselves in harm’s way often far away from their own family. Last year, I was able to travel to the Middle East to thank our women and men serving far from home in Afghanistan and Kuwait.
It is also a time to pay tribute to the members of our law enforcement who protect our families and neighbors in our communities, ready to respond and help when they need us most.
I’m thankful we have the right to free speech and to practice the religion of our choosing without government persecution. We have the right to assemble, to petition our government, to private property, and to defend ourselves. These are only some of the freedoms which make up the fabric of this nation, and no one can take them away.
I am thankful for all of the folks who reach out to me by phone, email, letters, and fax. I’m thankful to those who come by my town halls and open office hours. The folks of the Third District are my bosses and I listen to what you are saying, and I take those values and principles and fight for them in Congress. Sometimes we don’t always agree, but whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, or you don’t choose to identify with a party, I value our dialogue and conversations. I value you.
As you gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I hope your time is filled with joy. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving this year. May God bless you and your family, and may God bless Iowa and the United States of America.