A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest-hit small businesses at a time when they can least afford it, we should not have a one-size-fits-all policy set by Washington politicians. Joni Ernst More Quotes by Joni Ernst More Quotes From Joni Ernst I do believe that we need to lower taxes on our hard working Iowans immediately. Joni Ernst working need hard believe Cleaning up the mess in Washington is gonna take a whole lot of Iowa common sense. Joni Ernst sense cleaning mess common-sense We want Iowa to remain red. We have worked so hard to get here. We will not be a purple state: we will be a red state. Joni Ernst will purple red want I can tell you that the Iowa way - the Iowa way is to find out that there is a problem and acknowledge it and address it head-on. Joni Ernst you i-can problem way I grew up in southwest Iowa, on a farm north of Stanton, Iowa, which is a tiny little town, a farming community. I went to Iowa State University and joined Army ROTC while I was there and just have had such a phenomenal life. I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joni Ernst i-am freedom community life I have never once claimed that I have a Combat Action Badge. I have never claimed that I have a Purple Heart. What I have claimed is that I have served in a combat zone. Joni Ernst never purple action heart It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an IED. And to dishonor our service by saying we're not worthy of being called combat veterans is insulting to the majority of men and women who serve their country honorably. Joni Ernst service women god men I'm hearing from both sides right now. I've just got to hear from Iowans. Joni Ernst This is not a time to be weak, we need to show resolve, all of the nations need to show resolve. Joni Ernst It means the world to me to know that this memorial is going to be right here on our National Mall, and it will honor all of those tremendous men and women who served in our armed forces in the Global War on Terror, but it also honors their families and those that lost loved ones, it will be a place of remembrance. A place where families and communities can come gather together and just remember the significant service and sacrifice over the past 20 years of the [GWOT]. Joni Ernst To my colleague in the House, I would push back and say it's not Ukraine that is invading Russia, it is Russia invading Ukraine. Joni Ernst Don’t have them negotiating for us, walk on this deal. Joni Ernst Russia, this is the country with tanks running over Ukraine right now killing innocent civilians, children, women, people that we care about and yet they’re using those Russians to negotiate a deal with yet another one of our near-peer adversaries, Iran. Joni Ernst But what we can do. Joni Ernst Stop Nord Stream 2. Ramp up American energy and get away from Russian oil dependence. Let's start taking some very firm actions. Joni Ernst We're in the final stages and then we'll be reaching out to everybody. Joni Ernst Mo Brooks has made some comments about our farmers that are not appreciated in Iowa, and I know that Alabamians are not probably appreciative of them either. Joni Ernst My message to those Gold Star families is : Michael Caldwell loved ones will not be forgotten, there are so many families that have given so much through their loved ones' selfless sacrifice, and this will be a place of memories for those families. Joni Ernst We are happy to have it over this part of the finish line, it still does have to be signed into law by the president, but we do n’t anticipate any problems. Joni Ernst It will be a place of healing for every service member that served in the Global War on Terror. Joni Ernst