I grew up in southwest Iowa, on a farm north of Stanton, Iowa, which is a tiny little town, a farming community. I went to Iowa State University and joined Army ROTC while I was there and just have had such a phenomenal life. I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Joni Ernst

There's a lot we can achieve if we work together.

Joni Ernst

Growing up, I had only one good pair of shoes. So on rainy school days, my mom would slip plastic bread bags over them to keep them dry. But I was never embarrassed. Because the school bus would be filled with rows and rows of young Iowans with bread bags slipped over their feet.

Joni Ernst

My parents taught us to live within our means. It's time to force Washington to do the same.

Joni Ernst

Let's shut down the EPA.

Joni Ernst

I think we do have cyclic changes in weather, and I think that's been throughout the course of history.

Joni Ernst

I have never once claimed that I have a Combat Action Badge. I have never claimed that I have a Purple Heart. What I have claimed is that I have served in a combat zone.

Joni Ernst

Our fighters would be nowhere if they didn't have the support coming from folks like those that served with me.

Joni Ernst

I believe that businesses will do what is best for their business. I don't know that the government needs to be stepping in and telling them, 'This is what you will do.'

Joni Ernst

Cleaning up the mess in Washington is gonna take a whole lot of Iowa common sense.

Joni Ernst

We want Iowa to remain red. We have worked so hard to get here. We will not be a purple state: we will be a red state.

Joni Ernst

I am deeply concerned for the safety of our people brought by a lack of a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIL.

Joni Ernst

I grew up in southwest Iowa, on a farm north of Stanton, Iowa, which is a tiny little town, a farming community. I went to Iowa State University and joined Army ROTC while I was there and just have had such a phenomenal life. I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Joni Ernst

Taxpayers should not be on the hook for subsidizing former presidents' lives to the tune of millions of dollars.

Joni Ernst

I do believe that we need to lower taxes on our hard working Iowans immediately.

Joni Ernst

I have a beautiful little Smith & Wesson, 9 millimeter, and it goes with me virtually everywhere. But I do believe in the right to carry, and I believe in the right to defend myself and my family - whether it's from an intruder or whether it's from the government, should they decide that my rights are no longer important.

Joni Ernst

It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an IED. And to dishonor our service by saying we're not worthy of being called combat veterans is insulting to the majority of men and women who serve their country honorably.

Joni Ernst

The push for 'Meatless Mondays' in our military is misguided at best and goes against dietary guidelines. Our men and women in uniform should have the option to consume the protein they need, including meat, on a daily basis.

Joni Ernst

I do not support a federal minimum wage. I think every state has a different economy, a different cost of living. I don't believe that's the role of the federal government.

Joni Ernst

It's not enough to be a woman. You have to care about women's issues. And women's issues here in Iowa are that we have a strong economy. We have jobs that our sons and daughters can go off to someday. We have a great educational system. And women want strong national defense. We want to know that our families are going to be safe.

Joni Ernst

It's time to stop spending money we don't have and balance the budget.

Joni Ernst