River Bend Times

U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks recently led a Made in America Manufacturing Tour across Iowa’s First District, highlighting the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on local manufacturing and workforce development. The tour included visits to Cemen Tech in Indianola, Vermeer Corporation in Pella, and SSAB in Muscatine.

Miller-Meeks, who has represented Iowa’s 1st district in Congress since 2021 after previously serving in the Iowa Senate from 2019 to 2021, used the tour to showcase how recent legislation is benefiting manufacturers and workers. The law includes measures such as making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, cutting taxes on overtime work, and supporting American-made production.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill is delivering real wins for manufacturers and workers here in Iowa and across the country,” said Miller-Meeks. “From making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent to cutting taxes on overtime, this law rewards hard work and ensures America remains the best place in the world to build, hire, and innovate. I was proud to visit three Iowa manufacturers to highlight how these policies are strengthening our economy, reducing reliance on China, and creating new opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers.”

During her stops at each facility, Miller-Meeks met with employees and business leaders to discuss key provisions of the bill. The legislation allocates over $500 billion for workforce training programs and trade schools while restoring full expensing for new equipment purchases by U.S. companies.

Erin Streeter of the National Association of Manufacturers credited Miller-Meeks’ efforts: “H.R. 1 is a landmark win for manufacturing—delivering pro-growth policies that will strengthen our industry for years to come. Without bold leadership from lawmakers like Rep. Miller-Meeks, manufacturers could have been crippled by the largest tax hike in history—jeopardizing the progress we made after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Iowa’s First Congressional District is the first in the state for manufacturing. We want to thank her for protecting 13,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in wages at more than 800 manufacturing companies in her district alone.”

Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry added: “We appreciate Rep. Miller-Meeks’ long-time support of Iowa manufacturers. From her service in the Iowa Senate to her work in Congress, she has been a consistent advocate for pro-growth tax policies. ABI members thrive on certainty, and this legislation gives Iowa businesses the stability they need to reinvest in their people and their operations.”

Cemen Tech Director Brant Pftantz highlighted tax relief as crucial: “We are so grateful to Rep. Miller-Meeks for voting for pro-growth tax reform. It’s not just about giving manufacturers like us certainty but giving our contractors—builders and developers—the certainty to plan for their next projects so we can all build and scale together.”

At Vermeer Corporation, Daryl Bouwkamp noted R&D benefits: “The Big Beautiful Bill will allow us to continue to deduct expenses related to research and development. This is critical if manufacturers are going to continue to push the edge and innovate. This bill sets up manufacturers for a generation of continued growth and advancement.”

Chuck Schmitt at SSAB emphasized supply chains: “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will act as a growth catalyst for manufacturing in America. By driving investment, strengthening supply chains, and ensuring our workforce has the tools and training to succeed, this law will help SSAB meet growing demand with the most sustainably produced American-made steel. We thank Congresswoman Miller-Meeks for her continued leadership on policies that support jobs, improve competitiveness, and strengthen our nation’s economy.”

Miller-Meeks was born in Herlong, California in 1955 but currently resides in Le Claire.