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D.C. Dispatch: Iowans in Congress laud SCOTUS decision to curb universal injunctions • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]

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Date: 2025-06-27

Iowans in Congress applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to limit the power of federal courts to curb executive orders.

Also this week, Iowa Democrats also criticized tax credit cuts during “worst” agricultural trade deficit, Sen. Joni Ernst played “Washington-opoly” with “underutilized” federal properties, and Iowa’s delegation introduced many new bills.

The Supreme Court voted 6-3 Friday to narrow the scope of three universal injunctions passed by federal courts in Massachusetts, Washington and Maryland. These three courts passed injunctions halting the enforcement of Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship in the U.S.

The decision does not address the constitutionality of ending birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants or children of parents with a temporary visa. The opinion also determined that Trump’s executive order can’t be put into effect for at least 30 days from Friday, providing time for legal challenges.

Here’s how Iowa lawmakers responded:

“Today’s decision is a significant step towards addressing the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions. I’m heartened to hear a supermajority of the Supreme Court echo what I’ve said repeatedly: judges’ constitutional authority is limited to deciding cases and controversies,” Sen. Chuck Grassley stated in a press release.

“It’s a bad day to be an activist judge, but a great day for the American people,” said Rep. Ashley Hinson on X. “The Supreme Court correctly ruled that activist judges should not be able to unilaterally dictate national policy and stand in the way of the Trump agenda that over 70 million people voted for, including ending birthright citizenship. The days of illegal immigrants abusing birthright citizenship are numbered thanks to President Trump’s leadership.”

“I applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling to curb nationwide injunctions,” said Rep. Randy Feenstra in a post on X. “This decision will rein in the power of district court judges and restore the voice of the people. Americans elected President Trump and want to see his America First policies implemented and upheld.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion stating that: “The majority ignores entirely whether the President’s executive order is constitutional, instead focusing only on the question whether federal courts have the equitable authority to issue universal injunctions. Yet the order’s patent unlawfulness reveals the gravity of the majority’s error and underscores why equity supports universal injunctions as appropriate remedies in this kind of case.”

Iowa Democrats criticize tax credit cuts during ‘worst’ agricultural trade deficit

The Iowa Democratic Party, in a press release Wednesday, criticized the clean energy tax cuts outlined in the “big, beautiful” budget bill. Without clean energy tax credits, Iowa’s economy will take an additional hit at a vulnerable time, the party argues.

The release cites a study by Farm Bureau indicating U.S. agricultural trade debt for January to April 2025 clocked in at $19.7 billion, “the largest ever recorded for the first four months of a year.” Currently, $238 million in economic activity is “under threat” by clean energy tax credit cuts outlined in the Republican budget bill, according to the study.

The release includes a survey from Wallethub, which ranked Iowa’s state economy in last place for 2025. “This news could not have come at a worse time,” the Democrats’ release states.

“It’s time for Iowa’s representatives in Congress to stand up to Donald Trump, end his disastrous trade policies, and get to work on a new farm bill,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in the release. “Our farmers deserve leadership that will end this nonsense and let them make a living doing what they do best — feeding the world.”

Ernst calls for selling ‘underutilized’ federal property

Sen. Joni Ernst introduced the FOR SALE act Wednesday to sell six vacant or “underutilized” federal properties in Washington D.C. In a press release, Ernst claimed selling the properties would generate $400 million in revenue and cancel over $2.9 billion in “overdue maintenance.”

Three of the six properties for sale are currently headquarters to cabinet agencies:

The James V. Forrestal Building, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Energy, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Hubert H. Humphrey Jr. building and the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, home to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The nonpartisan Public Buildings Reform Board says Washington’s ‘wasteful real estate practices would not endure for so long in a private sector company,” Ernst said on the Senate floor Thursday. “But when playing Washington-opoly, Uncle Sam doesn’t pay the costs for his wasteful decisions, you do!”

Nunn-led act to reduce regulations for small and mid-sized businesses unanimously passes House

Rep. Zach Nunn’s bipartisan ELEVATE act seeks to “reduce bureaucratic red-tape” for small and mid-sized businesses trying to raise capital investment. This bill will allow “emerging growth companies” to submit two years of audited financials instead of three when and seeks to reduce the cost and time burden of capital investment. The legislation was unanimously passed by House members Monday.

“When investment capital gets trapped on the coasts by large firms and D.C. regulators, it’s Iowa’s small businesses that suffer,” Nunn said in a press release. “The ELEVATE Act is a commonsense fix that would level the playing field for Iowa entrepreneurs looking to grow.”

Miller-Meeks reintroduces legislation to shield manufacturers from wildfire-related lawsuits

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks reintroduced a bill to make manufacturers of critical infrastructure immune to wildfire-related lawsuits, “unless there is clear evidence of willful misconduct.” The bill was initially introduced by Miller-Meeks in 2024, but did not pass the House.

“No manufacturer should be driven out of business for building the components that power our homes, hospitals, and national defense,” said Miller-Meeks in a press release. “This bill protects the men and women who make the grid work, from transformers to transmission lines, and ensures they’re not punished for natural disasters beyond their control.”

Hinson reintroduces legislation to improve flood and drought mitigation

The Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act reintroduced by Hinson seeks to bolster flood and drought mitigation programs through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs. This bill would amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to include flood prevention and mitigation measures through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

“At the federal level, we must pursue proactive solutions that prioritize commonsense mitigation and flood prevention efforts to help save lives and livelihoods in the event of severe weather. While we can’t predict the weather, we can ensure we are prepared,” said Hinson in a press release. “I will continue working across the aisle to deliver certainty and protect our communities, businesses, and agriculture.”

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[1] Url: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/27/iowa-congress-members-laud-scotus/

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