Establishing Refundable Tax Credit for Ivf Expenses
Floor Speech
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill to establish a refundable tax credit for expenses incurred through in vitro fertilization, or IVF.
For many, including some of my own family members, the struggle with infertility has been profoundly heart-wrenching. While IVF presents its own challenges, it offers a vital opportunity for pregnancy and parenthood that should be accessible to all families facing these difficulties.
With the U.S. birthrate declining and IVF contributing to 2 to 3 percent of births, it is crucial to support families seeking to grow.
As a physician, I value every life, and as a mother, I understand the importance of empowering families to expand on their own terms and their own timelines.
This measure will provide a fully refundable tax credit for IVF- related medical expenses up to $30,000 over a lifetime. It will cover essential costs, such as transportation, egg retrievals, counseling, and medications.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, making the dream of parenthood more attainable and reaffirming our commitment to helping families. Horrific Acts in Gaza Strip
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today disgusted by the horrific acts which have taken place in the Gaza Strip. This brutal execution of six hostages taken by the Hamas war criminals is nothing more than the most recent development in a campaign of terror with one goal: the extermination of the Jewish State of Israel.
One of these hostages, an American man by the name of Hersh Goldberg- Polin, was enjoying the Re'im music festival when this band of thugs turned this peaceful day into a living hell. During the attack, Mr. Goldberg-Polin's arm was blown off by a grenade. He spent the next 330 days terrified that he would never see his family again. On August 31, 2024, they executed this badly wounded American music lover.
I recently visited the families of some of the hostages in Israel as well as here in the United States. I saw firsthand the unimaginable hope and strength these families have lived with for the past 11 months.
Hope for Goldberg-Polin's family has run out, but strength remains as they mourn their loss.
The thoughts and prayers of the American people will continue to be with the Israeli people. May God be with them. Honoring Kids for Vets
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Kids for Vets, which raised over $10,000 through lemonade stands for veteran causes in the Quad Cities.
As a 24-year Army veteran, it warms my heart to see America's youth so deeply concerned about our servicemembers.
Kids for Vets partners with amazing nonprofit organizations, such as the Quad Cities Outreach Center and SEAL Family Legacy, to provide support to Gold Star families, food banks, job placement, housing assistance, and so much more for America's heroes.
Because of the outstanding work of Kids for Vets and their partners, veterans in the Quad Cities and greater eastern Iowa have a support system that puts their essential needs first.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud the amazing work of Kids for Vets, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting and thanking this incredible organization. Congratulating Matt Stutzman
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Matt Stutzman of Fairfield, Iowa, for winning the gold medal in archery in the 2024 Paralympics. Matt is a distinguished athlete who has overcome the immense obstacle of being born without both arms to set the new Paralympic record of a score of 149 points out of 150 points possible.
In admiration of his father, Matt developed an interest in bow hunting. Upon noticing his interest in hunting, Matt's father bought him his first bow at age 16. From that point on, he was passionately dedicated to enhancing his skills. His first achievement came in the form of an Olympic silver medal in the 2012 Paralympics.
Next, in 2015, he set a new world record by hitting a target from 283 meters away, a record previously held by an able-bodied athlete.
Matt is a testament to the will and determination of Iowa's First District, and we expect further great things from him in the future. University of Iowa's Space Technology Innovation and Education Project
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the $1.5 million in Federal funding secured for a space technology innovation and education project at the University of Iowa's department of physics and astronomy. This funding will be used to build state-of-the-art space equipment to help train the next generation of cosmic leaders.
I was happy to visit the university shortly after securing these funds to speak to students and faculty about the impact this will have.
The University of Iowa is already a leading school for researching the skies above, and this critical investment will further the University of Iowa's standing as a leading university in the development of space instruments for NASA and for America's astronauts.
Our country is in dire need of leaders in the astronomical field, which is why I am proud to secure this funding for one of America's leading educational institutions. With that said, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing the best for the University of Iowa's future astronauts. Happy Birthday Curt Meeks
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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I extend the warmest birthday greetings to a most amazing man and life partner, my husband Curt Meeks.
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