Finkenauer Welcomes Two Iowans for Testimony During Coronavirus Recovery Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) chaired a Rural, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE) Subcommittee hearing on Thursday titled “Kick Starting Entrepreneurship and Main Street Economic Recovery."

The bipartisan hearing examined the challenges facing rural economies during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also explored what did and didn’t work to encourage rural development and entrepreneurship during and after the Great Recession — and what must be done to help businesses succeed coming out of the current crisis.

"Ensuring Iowans’ voices are heard and their needs are met is top priority in Congress,” Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer said. “Today’s RATE Subcommittee hearing continued that commitment, providing a platform for Iowans to share the toll the pandemic has taken on their communities and describe the needed next steps in our recovery."

Finkenauer was joined by Iowans Chad Nath, of Grinnell, and Jeremy Ketelsen, of Hiawatha, to discuss how their industries and organizations have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"I want to thank Mr. Nath and Mr. Ketelsen for taking time out of their busy days to share their unique stories with Congress,” Finkenauer said.

Nath is the executive director of LINK Grinnell Inc., a “cradle-to-career” childcare center offering full-day and after-school programs for children in the Grinnell community. At the hearing, Nath described his organization’s work to adapt to new community needs during the pandemic, including care for the children of essential workers.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a longstanding fear that childcare is one of our most critical institutions,” Nath said during his opening statement. “Throughout this pandemic, LINK has been able to provide childcare to support local business workers; most notably, first responders, healthcare workers, and the foodservice industry. This has been of utmost importance to continue to nurture the health and wellbeing of our community’s children."

Ketelsen is the Vice President of Ketelsen RV, a Hiawatha-based, family-owned recreational vehicle dealer that has been in business since 1962. In his remarks, Ketelsen described the cascading challenges presented by the pandemic and resulting economic slowdown.

"Like many dealers in the country, our inventory is down to about one-quarter of what we usually would have during the summer selling season, and these supply chain issues have the potential to create a storm after a storm,” Ketelsen said during his opening statement. “If manufacturers of RVs, which are primarily American made, cannot get components from the suppliers to build the product, it will lead to a challenging third and fourth quarter because we will not have products in stock at a time when consumers are seeking outdoor experiences and social distancing in RVs."

During Finkenauer’s opening statement, she described how constituents in her district were impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho storm, and how that recovery is playing out as Iowans continue to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I want to start by recognizing the Iowans in our community who have gone through so much over the last month." Finkenauer said in her opening remarks. "…We really got hit with a double whammy here in Iowa and in [Iowa’s First Congressional District] when what was essentially a Category Four hurricane came through large parts of my district."

Full video of Thursday’s hearing is available here.

Finkenauer is the Chairwoman of the RATE Subcommittee and is a member of the House Small Business Committee. Finkenauer has previously invited Iowans to testify before the RATE Subcommittee on the importance of biofuels being included in any clean energy discussion.