D.C. Dispatch: Iowa’s U.S. lawmakers talk Chinese school exchange program, aid to Israel

The U.S. Capitol on Sept. 28, 2023. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation weighed in this week on issues from the Chinese government funding a trip for Iowa high schoolers to visit China to calls for President Joe Biden to continue military aid for Israel.

Here’s a round-up of some of the big topics discussed by Iowa’s U.S. representatives and senators:

Representatives comment on Muscatine student trip to China

Muscatine High School students took a trip to China in January, funded through the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and coordinated with the country’s Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng. The travel, first reported by the U.K.-based tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail, is a way for Muscatine Community School District students and staff to connect with other students and cultures, the district said in a statement, adding that cultural exchanges can be “enriching experiences that broaden their perspectives while promoting positive global citizenship.”

However, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican representing Iowa’s 1st District, said that the exchange and travel is a “bridge too far” through the CCP funding. Miller-Meeks said in a statement Wednesday that the trips could pose a risk to U.S. national security.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s well-known efforts to infiltrate the U.S. are a massive national security concern,” Miller-Meeks said. “Whether it is buying up farmland in Iowa, spying on Americans or protecting Chinese ownership of TikTok, the long arm of the CCP apparatus will continue their attempts to infiltrate and interfere with U.S. national security interests.”

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, Iowa’s 2nd District Republican, spoke on Fox Business Thursday about the Muscatine school trip, criticizing it and other student cultural exchange efforts encouraged by President Xi Jinping as part of Chinese government “propaganda.”

“This is not just out of the goodness of his heart,” Hinson said in the interview. “… They want to wash away all of the genocide that’s happening, the oppression of the Chinese people, meanwhile, they’re trying to sneak into our universities and our academic institutions to steal our intellectual property with this influence campaign. We need to be eyes wide open about this and see it for what it really is. There is no free lunch here, there is no free trip to China.”

The school district said in its statement that it “recognizes and respects” the comments on the travel and “understands the deep differences between US and Chinese political and economic interests.” For future exchange opportunities, the district plans to seek guidance from the U.S. State Department.

“The district has been and will continue to be transparent about all student exchange opportunities, including providing all information to families connected to all trips so they can make an informed decision about their student’s participation,” the district said. “We will continue prioritizing our students’ safety, well-being, and integrity in their academic journey, including international exchanges.”

Pressure to continue aid to Israel

On Thursday, the U.S. House passed the Israel Security Assistance Support Act in a 224-187 vote, legislation that would require currently withheld military assistance to Israel be delivered to the country “not later than 15 days after” the legislation becomes law, as well as stopping funds for the U.S. secretaries of defense and state and the National Security Council until suspended defense articles are delivered.

The legislation also “calls on the Biden Administration to allow all previously approved arms transfers to Israel to proceed quickly to ensure that Israel can defend itself and defeat threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.”

The legislation comes in the wake of reports that the Biden administration paused a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza and potential future military operations in Rafah. Though Biden has been supportive of Israel’s actions following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the president has faced significant pushback from some Democrats and progressives on aid for Israel in the wake of high civilian death tolls during military action in Gaza over the past several months.

The death toll in Gaza has reached more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. As the paused shipment is seen as a response by the Biden administration in part to protests across the country — including in Iowa — calling for a ceasefire and end to U.S. military aid for Israel, Republicans have pushed back against denying support for the country in their fight against Hamas.

All four of Iowa’s representatives voted in support of the measure to provide Israel military support. In a news release Thursday, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa called the Biden administration’s paused shipment a “reckless betrayal of trust.”

“Instead of standing with our allies, President Biden is caving to Hamas sympathizers and allowing radicals to dictate longstanding American foreign policy,” Feenstra said in a statement. “I voted to require the Biden administration to immediately lift its hold on vital military support for Israel so that the people of Israel can defend themselves and their families from vicious Hamas terrorists. Now and always, Israel deserves our full and unwavering support.”

Hinson also released a statement supporting the legislation, saying that “while Biden sides with terrorists, I will always stand with Israel.”

Though the measure passed in the House, it is unlikely to be taken up by the Democrat-led Senate. The White House has also threatened to veto the bill if it were to make it to Biden’s desk.

“The president has already said he’d veto it, so it’s not going anywhere,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday.

Republican senators, including Iowa’s Joni Ernst, spoke in support of the bill, calling for Congress to take action in support of Israel.

“Choosing to deny critical munitions to Israel is reprehensible, and it reeks of politics,” Ernst said in a statement. “I’m holding President Biden accountable to standing by our ally in their fight to defend themselves against Iran-backed terrorists. This bill will do just that while ensuring Israel receives the precision tools they need to target Hamas and protect innocent civilians.”

Nunn supports federal funding for YMCA in West Des Moines

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn announced that the Walnut Creek Family YMCA in West Des Moines will receive more than $1.8 million in federal funding to help improve facilities and offer expanded community programs and services.

The funding was secured through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, legislation that allows members of Congress to designate funding for specific projects and needs within their jurisdictions. During a news conference at Walnut Creek Family YMCA this week, Nunn said that in addition to the YMCA funding, the law has provided funding for other Iowa projects like water infrastructure improvement and repairs in Ankeny and Bondurant, as well as for expansion of the Des Moines International Airport.

“(This) is all based on community project grants from teams here, tax dollars at work, coming right back to our communities and not being left in Washington, D.C.,” Nunn said. “I think this is really important that the folks here know best on how we can grow our communities.”

At the West Des Moines YMCA, the $1.8 million investment will fund renovations to the building’s entrance and main lobby, relocate front offices and expand youth development programming.

Cameron Nicholson, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines said that the Walnut Creek YMCA is set to “significantly elevate and broaden” programming and services for all members of the community through the funding. He thanked Nunn and Iowa for the opportunity and support the investment represents.

“We do a lot of programs for young people here at the YMCA — not just youth sports and swim, but we want activities that all families can participate together,” Nicholson said. “So thank you Iowa. Thank you for taking the resources and making sure that the YMCA can continue to be a force for good in this neighborhood.”

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