D.C. Dispatch: Iowa legislators cheer fentanyl reclassification, federal spending cuts

by Tom Foley, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 18, 2025

This week in the nation’s capital, President Donald Trump signed a fentanyl reclassification act led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa legislators cheered the passing of a federal rescission bill through Congress and House members helped send a $832 billion defense appropriations bill through the GOP-led chamber.

The Grassley-led HALT Act permanently reclassifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug. In February 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order reclassifying fentanyl-related substances to Schedule 1. Congress has since extended this order a total of 10 times.

The act has received criticism from advocacy groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating that classwide drug rescheduling may exacerbate incarceration rates and sentencing.

The president’s signing of the HALT Act Wednesday was attended by several Iowa officials including Grassley, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Rep. Randy Feenstra.

“The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America’s fight against fentanyl,” Grassley said in a press release. “By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities.”

“This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country,” Bird said in a press release. “As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly.

“I applaud President Trump for signing into law the HALT Fentanyl Act and taking decisive action to keep fentanyl and other poisonous substances out of our country.” Feenstra stated. “In conjunction with our work to secure the border, this legislation will help law enforcement confiscate dangerous drugs, combat the drug cartels, and save lives.”

Rep. Ashley Hinson stated: “This bill will help end the scourge of the opioid epidemic that has taken too many American lives — we will continue working together to get dangerous drugs off our streets & ensure dealers are punished for their crimes.”

Rep. Zach Nunn also stated he “proudly cosigned” the HALT act for its ability to “crack down on traffickers,” keep “deadly substances off our streets” and ensure consistent penalties for fentanyl distributors.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated in a press release: “As an original cosponsor in the House, I was proud to help lead the fight to get this bill across the finish line. With this law in place, we’re going on offense. We’re giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives.”

Miller-Meeks also reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday requiring social media companies and other communication service providers to alert law enforcement officials when illegal drug distributions occur on their platforms.

Iowa legislators praise cuts to foreign aid, public media

All of Iowa’s delegates voted in favor of Trump’s rescission bill to axe $9 billion in previously approved funding for programs including the U.S. Agency for International Aid, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio.

The rescission bill passed both chambers of Congress Friday with a vote of 51-48 in the Senate and 216-213 in the House. This marks the second time in over three decades Congress has approved a presidential rescission request.

Ernst praised the cuts to USAID, citing “abuses” such as an alleged $148,000 sent to a pickle-maker in Ukraine through USAID and $20 million spent on Sesame Street programming in Iraq.

“If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week,” she stated in a press release.

Hinson responded to the bill with a statement on X: “President Trump is the first president to actually deliver on real savings for the American people and end the culture of wasteful spending in Washington.”

Grassley took to X as well to state “Fed govt is $36 TRILLION in debt Last night Sen Republicans voted to roll back DC’s out of control spending.” He added that Republicans plan to build on the provisions in the “big, beautiful bill” going forward.

Miller-Meeks called the rescission cuts a one of two “big wins for the American people” in an X post. She also cheered the passing of a defense appropriations bill increasing military spending.

Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against passing the rescission bill. Several Democratic legislators criticized the rescission bill for cutting funding from public broadcasting that will impact rural news sources and withdrawing U.S. support from countries in need.

Ernst spearheads amendment to defense appropriations bill

Ernst led an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to require all defense spending be posted on the public website USAspending.gov.

This amendment will directly target “Other Transaction Agreements” which are flexible spending agreements not subject to standard acquisition laws and requirements.

“I am ending Pentagon bureaucrats’ game of hide and seek with your tax dollars,” Ernst stated in a press release. “Americans have a right to know where their hard-earned dollars are going. I’ve long been working to make the Pentagon more transparent and accountable and will continue to work to review the hidden receipts.”

The expansive defense bill passed through the House with a split vote of 221-209 on Friday. It allocates nearly $832 billion for provisions such as:

• Basic pay increase for all military members by 3.8% starting 2026
• Codifies Trump’s executive order to end military diversity, equity and inclusion programs
• $13 billion for missile defense and space programs
• $7 billion for “classified space superiority programs.”
• $2.6 billion for hypersonic missiles.
• $1.15 billion for counterdrug programs
• $500 million for Israeli Missile Defense
• $500 million for Taiwan Security Operative

Miller-Meeks responded to the provisions in a press release stating: “This bill gives our troops the pay raise they deserve and the resources they need to defend this country.”

The bill moves to the Senate for reconciliation.

Cedar Rapids to receive infrastructure funding from Grassley-backed bill

Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million in federal funding through the Grassley-backed Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021.

The funding is allocated for a “flood resiliency project” and road improvements on highway I-380.

“I’m happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure,” Grassley said in a press release. “You can imagine how important this funding is for Cedar Rapids, after the city has been hit by devastating floods. These federal dollars will be put to good use to strengthen the Cedar Rapids community.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.