Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative for Iowa · Republican · United States
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 9615, Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act, the BRACE Act. This is a bipartisan bill to strengthen America's domestic battery recycling industry and recover critical minerals already in our country.”
House of Representatives15 September 2026Source ↗
“Yet, much of this material is sent overseas, often to China, for processing. In our landfills, it creates a fire hazard. Our current RCRA regulations, which predate the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries, create unnecessary costs and uncertainty for recyclers.”
House of Representatives15 September 2026Source ↗
“Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and recognize the hardworking men and women who keep Iowa and our Nation moving.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“The club received the Fair Play Award for its sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, and respect throughout the tournament. Olamilekan Ojo, known as Messi, was recognized with the Five-Star Outstanding Player Award for his exceptional performance, and the club also received a Tournament Participation Award.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“On a frozen, desolate hill, an American marine pulled him from the brink of death--igniting a spark of gratitude that would shape a family's destiny forever. Decades later, his son, the international artist Kacey Seol, poured his heart into honoring that nameless marine.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“He also pioneered their innovative Holistic Health and Fitness, H2F, martial arts program, training our Nation's soldiers in physical and mental readiness. As we continue celebrating 250 years of our Nation, the Seol family reminds us freedom is not free. You earn it daily by what you do for your family, your community, and your country.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
The complete record
67 held · 41 searchable for Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The searchable lines are below in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
This is not an official version of US Congress proceedings. It reproduces the published record and links to it; the official version is the one US Congress publishes.
“Yet, much of this material is sent overseas, often to China, for processing. In our landfills, it creates a fire hazard. Our current RCRA regulations, which predate the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries, create unnecessary costs and uncertainty for recyclers. The BRACE Act would allow destination facilities to store lithium-ion batteries at the same location where they are recycled, eliminating unnecessary costs or the need for complex permits. This commonsense update will help grow domestic battery recycling and strengthen our critical mineral supply chains. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the BRACE Act.”
House of Representatives15 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 9615, Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act, the BRACE Act. This is a bipartisan bill to strengthen America's domestic battery recycling industry and recover critical minerals already in our country. This is on top of bills I have introduced with the same thing, recovering from hard drives. I would also like to thank my colleagues across the aisle, Representatives Menendez and Ruiz, for joining me on this legislation. Demand for lithium-ion batteries has grown exponentially, driven by electric vehicles, energy storage, communication, and consumer products. As these batteries reach the end of their lives, recycling can help recover valuable critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper.”
House of Representatives15 September 2026Source ↗
“He also pioneered their innovative Holistic Health and Fitness, H2F, martial arts program, training our Nation's soldiers in physical and mental readiness. As we continue celebrating 250 years of our Nation, the Seol family reminds us freedom is not free. You earn it daily by what you do for your family, your community, and your country. Their 75-year journey is the ultimate testament that American freedom is a priceless gift that is meant to be paid forward and preserved. Mr. Speaker, I wish a very happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Susan. Happy birthday, Susan. Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to my husband, Curt Meeks. Happy birthday to my husband, and I hope he has many more birthdays to come. ____________________”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“On a frozen, desolate hill, an American marine pulled him from the brink of death--igniting a spark of gratitude that would shape a family's destiny forever. Decades later, his son, the international artist Kacey Seol, poured his heart into honoring that nameless marine. He created Alliance 70, a breathtaking 10-foot canvas composed of 300,000 microscopic historic images of both nations harmonizing into one powerful unit that now hangs permanently inside the Pentagon. It is a stunning, living monument to the alliance that bought his family's freedom. Today, that sacred promise is fulfilled at Rock Island Arsenal in my district. The refugee's grandson, Dr. Jason Seol--serving dually as an U.S. Army Reserve officer and an Army civilian at First Army Headquarters--is living the American Dream his grandfather could only imagine.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“The trucking industry also provides good-paying jobs for Iowans and supports thousands of locally owned businesses. I am grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of Iowa's truck drivers and the vital role they play in supporting our families, strengthening our local businesses, and ensuring communities across Iowa have the goods and resources they need. Recognizing the Seol Family Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a story about an unpayable debt, a promise kept across generations, and the true meaning of the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago, a young refugee named Myung-Hee Seol, having survived a brutal foreign occupation and the shadow of communism, fought for his life in the Korean war.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and recognize the hardworking men and women who keep Iowa and our Nation moving. Iowa is home to 37,530 truck drivers, many of whom spend long hours on the road delivering the food, fuel, supplies, and products our families, farms, and businesses rely on every day. From the truck stops along Interstate 80 to the world's largest truck stop, the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, trucking is a vital part of Iowa's economy and way of life. These drivers help keep our grocery store shelves stocked, support Iowa's farmers and manufacturers, and ensure goods can reach communities across our State and country. They even deliver lifesaving medical supplies and organs. In fact, more than 60 percent of the communities in Iowa depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“The club received the Fair Play Award for its sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, and respect throughout the tournament. Olamilekan Ojo, known as Messi, was recognized with the Five-Star Outstanding Player Award for his exceptional performance, and the club also received a Tournament Participation Award. These accomplishments are a testament to the team's hard work and its commitment to representing Iowa with pride. Beyond competition, the club uses soccer to develop young athletes, build leadership skills and character, promote healthy lifestyles, and strengthen community connections. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the coaches and all the young athletes on the Iowa National Soccer Team Club, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the future. Celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sudanese-American Iowa National Soccer Team Club for its outstanding performance at the Sudanese American Soccer Federation's 25th Anniversary Tournament. Competing at the national level for the third time, the Iowa team earned three awards that reflect the talent, character, and dedication of its players.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Now, 25 years later, I still think about the families who set an extra place at the table that will always be empty, the children who grew up without a parent. Their grief became our grief, and it still is. We promise to never forget. I will never forget them. I will always defend them. Those who harm us, we will not forget. ____________________”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Among them were a father who called his wife just to say ``I love you'' one more time; a mother who tucked a photo of her kids into her bag that morning; an Iowan who was in his second week at Columbia, who goes down to volunteer and then enlists in the military; firefighters who ran upstairs while everyone else was running down because that was simply who they were. Nearly 3,000 of them never made it home. In the quiet that followed, in the ash, in the silence, something happened that I still carry with me. Strangers became family. We held each other. We cried together. For a moment, we forgot everything that divided us. I enlisted in the Army to ensure rights for everyone, regardless of whether they disagree with me.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, ordinary people kissed their families good-bye and went to work. As I went to work after making my children's lunch, I heard on the radio that a plane had flown into Tower One and thought it was a prank. By the time we turned on the TV in our waiting room, we saw the second plane hit the tower and knew we had a terrorist attack, our generation's Pearl Harbor.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Every dollar Washington wastes is a dollar taken from a farmer in Iowa, a nurse working a double shift, or a young family trying to get ahead. I did not come to Washington to protect its comfortable habit of wasting taxpayer money. I came here to defend the people who pay the bills. This bill puts them front and center where they belong. I thank Senator Ernst once again for her partnership, and I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation. The people of Iowa are watching. The people of America are watching. Let's give them the transparency they deserve.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Air Force One is billions over budget and years behind. The VA's electronic health records system, meant to serve our veterans, tripled from $16 billion to nearly $50 billion. Madam Speaker, these are not rounding errors. These are betrayals of the people who have paid for them. That is why I introduced the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act. It is simple. It requires the Federal Government to publicly disclose any taxpayer-funded project that is more than $1 billion over budget or more than 5 years behind schedule. No more hiding and no more burying the failures where no one can find them. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant. Here is the truth: The American people have a right to know where their money goes.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“However, instead of accountability, we get boondoggles. Take Governor Newsom's high-speed rail in California. It was supposed to cost $33 billion and connect Los Angeles to San Francisco by 2020. Today, it is more than $95 billion over budget and years behind schedule. After more than a decade and billions of taxpayer dollars, they are only now beginning to lay track, and the promised line between Los Angeles and San Francisco is nowhere in sight. What the people were promised and what they got are two very different things. However, it is not just California. In Honolulu, a rail project is $4.8 billion over budget, with its completion slipping from 2020 all the way to 2031. In Columbus, a corridor project is 19 years behind schedule. The Federal Reserve's renovation ballooned to nearly $2.5 billion.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“This is the most significant housing reform in a generation, and it is now law. To every Iowan chasing their first home, help is on the way. The American Dream is worth fighting for, and I will never stop fighting for my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend a birthday greeting to the oldest of seven siblings, Richard Miller. Happy birthday, Richard. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend birthday greetings to the youngest of my seven siblings, MariEleanor Martino. Happy birthday, MariEleanor. ____________________”
House of Representatives14 July 2026Source ↗
“Across this country, the average first-time home buyer is now 40 years old, an all-time high. In contrast, I purchased my first home as a young captain in the Army at age 22. Our Nation is short as many as 5.5 million homes. The share of first- time home buyers has fallen by one-half since 2007. Iowa families feel this every single day. Young couples work hard, save diligently, and still cannot afford a home in the communities they grew up in. Rental prices have increased, as well. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act changes that. It cuts the red tape strangling home construction, so we build more homes and lower costs for buyers and renters alike. It stops big Wall Street firms from buying up single-family homes because Iowa homes belong to Iowa families, not hedge funds.”
House of Representatives14 July 2026Source ↗
“These students work hard, represent Iowa with pride, and demonstrate the positive impact school music programs have on our youth. Recognizing Sheriff Robert Rotter Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Sheriff Robert Rotter, who was recently confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa. Sheriff Rotter joined the Iowa County Sheriff's Office in 1990 and has dedicated more than three decades to public service. Before his nomination, Sheriff Rotter was serving his fifth term as the Iowa County Sheriff, earning a reputation for leadership, service, and commitment to the people of Iowa County and Iowa. Throughout his career, Sheriff Rotter has remained dedicated to keeping our communities safe.”
House of Representatives14 July 2026Source ↗
“Participation in the band gives students the opportunity to develop leadership, discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence that will serve them well after graduation. I know this firsthand because my children participated in band and orchestra. While the Independence Day Parade was, unfortunately, canceled because of the extreme heat, the students made the most of their once- in-a-lifetime trip. They adapted and played a special popup performance at the Upper Senate Park, allowing visitors to experience this talented Iowa band. They also attended the National Symphony Orchestra's Fourth of July concert and fireworks, visited our Nation's iconic monuments, and explored the Smithsonian museums. Our community in Pella is extremely supportive of its band program.”
House of Representatives14 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pella High School Marching Dutch on their trip to our Nation's Capital for the 250th National Independence Day celebration. Led by 21-year band director Dameon Place, the Pella Marching Dutch includes 225 talented high school students.”
House of Representatives14 July 2026Source ↗
“I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan measure to strengthen America's critical infrastructure, create opportunities for American workers, and enhance our economic security.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“We are creating a roadmap for revitalizing rural communities that have been sidelined for far too long while critical infrastructure components are manufactured overseas. This legislation not only shields America from global supply chain disruptions but also identifies which rural areas are well positioned to become manufacturing hubs. The strength of our Nation is enhanced when the materials used in our critical infrastructure and the products Americans purchase are produced domestically and American made. When manufacturing happens on American soil, we retain the innovation, the intellectual property, the economic benefits, and the long-term prosperity that comes with it in rebuilding the middle class.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“These examples demonstrate with painful clarity that our Nation's critical infrastructure, spanning 16 designated sectors including energy, communications, transportation, healthcare, military, and more, cannot be dependent on foreign supply chains. This bill takes a measured, data-driven approach to addressing these vulnerabilities. Within one 1 year of enactment, the Secretary of Commerce would be required to identify high-demand critical infrastructure with manufacturing constraints, do a cost-benefit analysis of domestic production, and determine the feasibility of such production. By supporting this bill, we are taking an important step toward rebuilding American manufacturing capability in strategic sectors.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“We cannot continue to allow foreign competitors, particularly China and the Chinese Communist Party, to control our supply chains and create economic vulnerabilities. Consider our infrastructure and emerging technologies. We have seen how foreign control of critical minerals needed for solar panels and battery production has created bottlenecks in our renewable energy transition and also in the manufacturing of vehicles. Similarly, the components required for data centers that power our artificial intelligence, or augmented intelligence capabilities, are largely manufactured overseas, creating significant vulnerabilities in these strategically important sectors.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Bilirakis for yielding. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1721, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act. This bipartisan legislation that I co-lead with Representative Schrier directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive study examining the feasibility of manufacturing critical infrastructure products here in the United States. At a time when we have a President who is going to make good on the promise to onshore manufacturing and have a resurgence of manufacturing in the United States, there is nothing more important we can do than to reauthorize the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and pass H.R. 1721. The challenges we face regarding our supply chains and manufacturing capabilities have been brought into sharp focus in recent years.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“Captured by the Germans and sent to a work camp, Henry's indomitable spirit led him to escape, finding his way back to American forces almost 1 year later, still wearing his tattered D-day uniform. After the war, Henry returned home to build a business, raise a family, and serve his fellow veterans. He never stopped loving his country, once saying: ``Only America could do that.'' Henry Langrehr lived a life of service, sacrifice, and inspiration. We owe him and all like him a debt that can never be repaid. I had the pleasure of meeting his grandniece this weekend at the University of Iowa ROTC Military Ball. What a special event. May God bless his memory and comfort his family. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend birthday greetings to my younger sister, Mariette Stanson. ____________________”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of World War II hero Henry Langrehr of Clinton, Iowa. Henry was the embodiment of the Greatest Generation: humble, courageous, and fiercely devoted to his country. On what should have been his high school graduation day, he instead jumped from a C-47 over France, crashing through a greenhouse during the D-day invasion.”
House of Representatives28 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my firstborn child, Jonathon, of whom I am an incredibly proud mom, a very happy birthday. Happy birthday, Son. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my amazing nephew Joseph Martino a happy 18th birthday. Happy birthday, Joseph. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my incredibly talented nephew Matthew Martino a wonderful 18th birthday. Happy birthday, Matthew. Mr. Speaker, I think that is enough birthdays.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“The USS Iowa is the third naval vessel to bear that name following a battleship that served with distinction in World War II, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific, in the Korean war and in the Gulf. That proud legacy now continues beneath the sea. The legacy of the Gray Ghost and the new USS Iowa nuclear-class submarine begins its mission. A new legend for the USS Iowa began on Saturday. It is indefatigable. It is undeterred. It is undetected, and it is unstoppable. To the crew, I thank them for their service and remember to be Iowa nice to one another. To all those who may cross her path and our adversaries, fear the Ghost. ____________________”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the commissioning of the USS Iowa, the Navy's newest Virginia-class, nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine. I had the honor this weekend to attend the ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London, alongside Governor Kim Reynolds, veterans, and the families of over 140 crew members. It was a powerful moment marking the beginning of a new era.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Alvin ``Al'' Van Zee, a devoted veteran and public servant from Pella, Iowa. As the longest serving commissioner on the Marion County Commission of Veterans Affairs, Al dedicated more than 20 years to ensuring Iowa's veterans received care, support, and the recognition they deserved. A proud veteran himself, Al's service didn't end when he left the military.”
House of Representatives26 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today after 5 minutes of fiction to bring a little Iowa reality to Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Stephen Buchanan, who secured the 197-pound national wrestling title at the NCAA championships in Philadelphia. His victory was witnessed by President Donald Trump, highlighting the significance of this achievement. Stephen's journey is one of transformation.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a dear friend and a former Iowa State Representative, James Fredrick Hahn. James was a public servant who dedicated his life to bettering his community and the State of Iowa. James was a true Iowan. He was a farmer in Muscatine County. He was hardworking, principled, honorable, and had impeccable integrity in the likes of John Wayne.”
House of Representatives10 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend President Donald Trump for the executive actions he has taken to secure our southern border. Thanks to his leadership, illegal crossings have dropped to the lowest level we have seen in decades. Our communities have suffered for too long under Joe Biden's failed open-border policies. Crime has surged, fentanyl has poured in, and American jobs have been undermined.”
House of Representatives4 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Dave Heaton, a beloved Iowan, whose passing on February 12 at age 84 has left his wife Carmen; daughter, Mary Elizabeth; the city of Mount Pleasant; and Iowa in mourning. Dave graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, and he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served with an engineering battalion in Washington, Iowa.”
House of Representatives24 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I feel compelled to remark on the outrage of my colleagues and others over the special government employee status granted to Elon Musk by the executive branch. We are hearing a lot of, oh, he is unelected or he is unaccountable.”
House of Representatives12 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, from 712 to 205 to the Super Bowl, former Iowa Hawkeye and current Philadelphia Eagle Cooper DeJean is now a world champion. The rookie quarterback helped lead the Eagles to their second Super Bowl victory, returning his first professional career interception for a touchdown against the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. If that wasn't special enough, it was also Coop's 22nd birthday.”
House of Representatives10 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of a dear friend, a true servant of our State, and an extraordinary public servant, Representative Martin Graber. His unexpected passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. For all who knew him, Martin was more than a colleague. He was a friend, mentor, and dedicated leader.”
House of Representatives5 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to wish my best bud and my nephew a happy 15th birthday. Today is the actual day. Happy birthday, Andrew. I hope you have a wonderful day. ____________________”
House of Representatives22 January 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, it is a new era in American history. I congratulate President Donald Trump and Senator, now-Vice President J.D. Vance on their inauguration. This is the beginning of a golden age where we will secure our borders, lower prices, unleash American energy, and drain the D.C. swamp.”
House of Representatives22 January 2025Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I rise today, proud to announce that I have joined the bipartisan Congressional DOGE Caucus. This important initiative is focused on bringing much needed efficiency to the Federal Government and reducing wasteful spending that burdens taxpayers. As an Iowan, I know that every dollar counts.”
House of Representatives14 January 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a true leader from my district, Mr. Decker Ploehn, Bettendorf's city administrator, who has recently been named the Quad Cities Most Influential Leader for 2024. Decker's leadership is defined by his dedication to his community and his remarkable ability to build relationships that foster growth, collaboration, and positive change.”
House of Representatives7 January 2025Source ↗