Joni Ernst

Electoral integrity

Criminal justice

Fiscal policy

Healthcare

Education

Economy and labor

Environment and energy

Immigration

National security and foreign policy

Civil rights and liberties

Social policy

Technology and data

Civil liberties and government power

Government accountability and transparency

Infrastructure and public investment

Ernst spoke on the Senate floor in support of E15 legislation that the House passed, stating that it would lower gas prices, provide new markets for Iowa farmers, and that consumers should have the choice to use E15 fuel.

Ernst urged colleagues to support the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, which would extend the statutes of limitation for prosecuting fraud in the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund by 5 years.

Ernst asked for the yeas and nays on the St. John nomination.

Ernst honored Sergeant Declan Coady, a 20-year-old from West Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed on March 1, 2026, in an Iranian drone strike on an American tactical operations center in Kuwait's Port of Shuaiba.

Ernst rose to speak in support of the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, describing it as bipartisan, bicameral legislation that reforms the SBIR and STTR programs to safeguard technology against foreign influence, hold recipients accountable for producing technologies, limit annual applications to prioritize small businesses, establish strategic breakthrough awards, and provide taxpayer transparency.

Ernst requested the first reading of S. 3977, a bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to modify certain bankruptcy eligibility requirements, and then requested a second reading while objecting to her own request to place the bill on the calendar under rule XIV.

Ernst co-sponsored S. 3856, a bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require States to provide recipient-level data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request.

Paul Amdt. No. 4272

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4236

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4234

Motion to Table Lee Amdt. No. 4286

Sanders Amdt. No. 4290

Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Merkley Amdt. No. 4287

H.R. 7148, as Amended

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 7148

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 3627

Motion to Invoke Cloture: H.R. 6938

H.R. 6938

Is the Point of Order Well Taken Re: To the Privilege Status of S.J. Res. 98

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 84

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6938

Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 98

Confirmation: Alexander C. Van Hook, of Louisiana, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana

Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 86

Confirmation: Joshua Simmons, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency

Confirmation: Sara Bailey, of Texas, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy

Confirmation: Keith Bass, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

Ernst asked for the yeas and nays on the Orr nomination.

Ernst introduced S. 3091, a bill to require the Administrator of General Services to dispose of certain Federal buildings, and delivered remarks comparing vacant federal properties to abandoned buildings that Spirit Halloween stores revitalize, proposing that the government sell off unused federal real estate to private businesses.

Ernst introduced S. 3091, a bill to require the Administrator of General Services to dispose of certain Federal buildings, and made remarks on the Senate floor comparing vacant government properties to abandoned buildings that could be repurposed by private businesses.

Ernst spoke on the Senate floor regarding the government shutdown, describing its impacts on Iowans including homeless shelter services, federal employees, farmers, SNAP and WIC recipients, and military families.

Ernst submitted reports from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on two bills: S. 1199 to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain pandemic programs, and S. 2232 to expand the surety bond program under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Ernst co-sponsored Senate Resolution 349 to designate the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week."

Ernst asked for the yeas and nays on the Kupor nomination.

Ernst used a Monopoly board game analogy to explain that the federal government owns underutilized properties costing billions in maintenance and repairs, and advocated for passage of the For Sale Act to allow the government to sell unneeded properties.

Ernst rose in support of the confirmation of Matthew Whitaker to serve as U.S. Ambassador to NATO, citing his experience as a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, former Acting Attorney General, and his understanding of security challenges facing the nation and its allies.

Ernst submitted reports from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on S. 1047, a bill to prohibit individuals convicted of defrauding the Government from receiving Small Business Administration assistance, and S. 1093, a bill to amend the Small Business Act to enhance the Office of Rural Affairs.

Ernst requested that the name of Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming be added as a cosponsor of S. 177, a bill to prohibit Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Ernst submitted three bills from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: S. 298 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, S. 300 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and S. 371 without amendment.

Ernst asked for the yeas and nays on the Loeffler nomination vote.

Ernst submitted two committee reports from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: one with amendments on S. 68, a bill to prohibit the suspension of collections on loans made to small businesses related to COVID-19, and one with an amendment on S. 273, a bill to allow nonprofit child care providers to participate in certain Small Business Administration loan programs.

Ernst reported two bills from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: S. 68, a bill to prohibit the suspension of collections on loans made to small businesses related to COVID-19, with amendments, and S. 273, a bill to allow nonprofit child care providers to participate in certain Small Business Administration loan programs, with an amendment.

Ernst requested that the names of Senator Blackburn be added as a cosponsor of S. 21, Senator Sullivan be added as a cosponsor of S. 84, and Senator Blackburn be added as a cosponsor of S. 210.

Ernst requested that the names of Senator Wicker from Mississippi and Senator Banks from Indiana be added as cosponsors of S. 84, a bill concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody of certain aliens charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Ernst recognized Delta Metals of Lamoni, Iowa as the Senate Small Business of the Week.