Hi everyone, I just arrived back in Washington from Iowa after visiting 14 counties last week. I was home for the 4th of July Congressional recess.

Thanks to those of you who came and shared your views with me. I brought back to Washington a lot of feedback from each of my meetings.

In addition to my town hall meetings, I was also able to attend a rotary meeting in Sibley, visit a farm in Little Rock, tour the VA health clinics in Fort Dodge and speak at the grand opening of the USDA Large Animal Research Facility in Ames.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns participated in the grand opening of the new USDA facility which shows the national importance of this project. The importance to consumers of a safe food supply can’t be overstated. Likewise, when it comes to exports, it’s vitally important to be able to contest scientifically unfounded barriers to U.S. agricultural products.

This state-of-the-art facility in Ames will have an important scientific role in the safety of the U.S. food supply.

This week in the Senate we are bringing up the Defense Authorization bill. I will keep you updated with the debate.