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Home ›Congresswoman Hinson’s visit to Allamakee County includes stop at Ziegler CAT

Congresswoman visits Ziegler CAT as part of county tour ... U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson from Iowa’s Second Congressional District made a stop at Ziegler CAT in Postville Friday, January 10 as part of a tour of her Congressional District prior to the new legislative session. Pictured above during part of that visit are, left to right, Ziegler CAT Field Service Supervisor Dave Solem, Shop Supervisor Katie Melcher and Branch Operations Manager Robb Pauling, along with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s Second Congressional District toured Ziegler CAT’s Postville location Friday afternoon, January 10 as part of her annual 22-County Tour. Hinson toured the current Ziegler CAT facility and learned more about Ziegler CAT’s expansion and ongoing facility construction north of Postville in addition to answering questions from Ziegler CAT employees during her visit to Allamakee County.
Following the Q&A portion of the visit, Hinson held a media availability session that included questions from representatives of local newspapers and television media. Hinson advised that she and her husband will be in attendance at the January 20 inauguration of President Donald Trump at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Relating to a question about the potential renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, Hinson noted that these conversations by President Trump relate to the need to reassert the United States internationally and put American interests first. Hinson said that she looks forward to working with President Trump on trade issues and that she has heard concerns from Iowa agriculture producers and manufacturers relating to access to markets, products and trade.
Relating to the scheduled ban of the TikTok social media platform January 19, Hinson noted that she was a co-sponsor of legislation that forces the divestment of this company from the Chinese Communist Party and associated companies due to elements of the platform putting information and the safety of Americans at risk. Hinson noted that she is hopeful TikTok follows through with divesting to allow the platform’s continued use in the United States.
In response to a question about wildfires in Los Angeles, Hinson noted that she is very familiar with the area being affected after having lived in southern California while earning her undergraduate degree. She further noted that conversations in Congress are taking place relating to disaster assistance and additional funding.
Relating to her tour and visit at Ziegler CAT in Postville, Hinson noted that Ziegler CAT is part of a larger network of facilities which has seen improvement relating to supply chain issues. Hinson discussed the importance of businesses like Ziegler CAT to rural communities. She shared that conversations relating to tax policy are taking place this year to do more to create incentives and reinvigorate American manufacturing to help businesses grow and expand, in addition to allowing for the increased investment in research and development to prevent the reliance on adversaries for necessary items in the supply chain. Hinson further noted that creating certainty in the tax code is necessary and will be beneficial to businesses.
Hinson discussed her 22-County Tour in which she visits every county in Iowa’s Second Congressional District multiple times each year. She made note of an earlier northeast Iowa stop that day and conversations with the Oelwein Volunteer Fire Department which included discussion of recruitment and grant opportunities to fund the purchase of a new fire truck for emergency response. Hinson discussed another earlier visit in Decorah at WinnMed, which she advised is currently pursuing a $1.68 million expansion of medical and surgical facilities which was discussed during her tour of the OB-GYN wing and delivery unit at that hospital. Following the Ziegler CAT visit in Postville, Hinson advised that her next stop that day will be the Garnavillo Mini Mart to learn more about that immigrant-owned business and its success in that community.
As follow-up to a question relating to current legislation of note, Hinson spoke about the Laken Riley Act, legislation that she co-sponsored, which she advised has passed the floor this week with bipartisan support. Hinson noted that Laken Riley lost her life at the hands of an illegal immigrant that was released after committing an earlier crime. Hinson advised that more than 80 senators have voted for this legislation to advance. She further noted that Americans want a secure border, with that issue becoming the number-one mandate with the new administration.