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By Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Iowa’s farmers are the backbone of our state and the heart of America. Last week, I visited Brenneman Family Farm in Kalona, where I saw firsthand the grit, hard work, and faith that drive family farms. These visits remind me why I fight every day in Congress to protect the people who feed and fuel our nation.
It’s why I strongly support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extends the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and raises the estate tax exemption, ensuring the next generation can inherit a family farm or small business without having to sell it just to pay the inheritance tax. While some family farms may hold significant value on paper, most families simply do not have the cash to cover the crushing inheritance taxes. They are land rich but cash poor, and when the farm is passed down, families are often forced to sell off land, equipment, or even the entire operation just to satisfy the IRS.
We cannot let that happen. Farming is already one of the toughest, most high-risk industries, and Washington should be helping, not punishing, the families who keep Iowa’s agricultural economy strong.
I am grateful to President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me in supporting Iowa’s farmers. Together, we are fighting to ensure that generational family farms are protected, rural communities are strengthened, and Iowa agriculture remains a national leader.
As I travel across Iowa, I hear the same message from farmers everywhere: they aren’t asking for handouts. They are asking for fairness. They want to keep what they’ve built, reinvest in their operations, and pass their farms on to the next generation without fear of being taxed out of existence.
In Congress, I will continue to stand with our farmers and fight for policies that help them thrive. Iowa’s farm families deserve leaders who understand their challenges, honor their contributions, and deliver results. When our farmers succeed, Iowa succeeds — and America is stronger for it.