CONGRESS FOR VOTERS
Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst

Republican · U.S. Senator for Iowa

101 sponsored · 209 cosponsored

Age 56 · In office since 2015

Contact their office: (202) 224-3254 · 260 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 · Official website

Overview Votes (459) Sponsored (101) Cosponsored (209)

In the 119th Congress (2025–2026)

What they got done

Most bills never get a vote. These are the ones they wrote or backed that got somewhere.

Became law (7)

  • Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Their bill

    Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025

    S. 766 Government Operations and Politics

    A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors.

    Became law

    This bill requires an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule.

    Yes· 2 of 10

    • Scored +8

      Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?

      The bill requires public disclosure of details regarding massive taxpayer-funded projects via the OMB website.

    • Scored +5

      Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?

      The bill promotes fiscal accountability by requiring reporting on projects that exceed budgets by $1 billion.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Their bill

    Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act

    S. 3971 Commerce

    A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor. See the voting map.

    Became law

    The House voted 345–41 on Mar 17.

    This act extends the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031.

    Yes· 2 of 8

    • Scored +9

      Would business owners be better off under this?

      The bill significantly expands the scope and funding availability for small business owners via the SBIR/STTR programs.

    • Scored +8

      Does this make it easier to run a small business?

      The act provides substantial new funding opportunities, technical assistance, and reduced administrative burdens for small businesses.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • John Kennedy (R-LA)

    Cosponsored

    Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

    S. 269 Social Welfare

    A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors.

    Became law

    This bill aims to improve coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay working system.

    Yes· 2 of 8

    • Scored +5

      Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?

      Enhances oversight and coordination to eliminate improper payments.

    • Scored +4

      Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?

      Requires clear and convincing evidence before recording a death to protect individuals from being incorrectly identified as deceased.

    No question was scored the opposite.

And 4 more on their Sponsored and Cosponsored pages.

Passed one chamber, waiting on the other (11)

Halfway: the other chamber has to pass the same text before it can go to the President.

  • Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Their bill

    Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

    S. 872 Government Operations and Politics

    A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · Jun 15

    This bill aims to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. The primary goal is to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov.

    Yes

    • Scored +7

      Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?

      The bill mandates more rigorous reporting and centralizing of data to USAspending.gov to improve visibility into federal spending.

    • Scored +3

      Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?

      The bill increases transparency in how federal funds are allocated through other transaction agreements.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Their bill

    SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act

    S. 1199 Commerce

    A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · May 4

    This act aims to extend the statute of limitations for fraud related to specific pandemic programs.

    Yes· 2 of 4

    • Scored +5

      Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?

      The bill mandates detailed reports to Congress on DOJ investigation and prosecution activities.

    • Scored +4

      Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?

      Extending the statute of limitations for fraud recovery promotes better oversight of public funds.

    The opposite

    • Scored -3

      Would business owners be better off under this?

      Business owners involved in these programs face a significantly longer window for potential legal action.

    • Scored -2

      Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?

      Extending statutes of limitations can be seen as reducing the finality of legal matters for individuals.

  • Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Their bill

    National STEM Week Act

    S. 1070 Education

    A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · Mar 3

    This bill aims to establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation. This week is intended to enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.

    Yes· 2 of 19

    • Scored +4

      Would students be better off under this?

      The entire act is designed to enhance educational pathways and career opportunities for students.

    • Scored +3

      Is this likely to grow the economy?

      Promoting innovation through STEM education is intended to bolster national economic competitiveness.

    No question was scored the opposite.

And 8 more on their Sponsored and Cosponsored pages.

Resolutions of theirs that were adopted (9)

A resolution is a chamber speaking for itself — a position, a rule or a tribute. Adopting it puts it into effect, but it is not a law.

Still waiting, of the 101 bills they wrote: 6 cleared committee and wait for a first vote, 80 are in committee. Committee is where most bills end, whoever writes them — silence there, not a vote, is the usual way a bill dies.

What their bills would do

Every bill is scored against plain yes-or-no questions. These count their bills — the ones they wrote and the ones they cosponsored — by how each question was answered: yes, or the opposite. Open one to see those bills, where each stands, and why it was scored that way. Scores are made by AI ().

Who their bills would affect

What else they would change

How they voted lately

Their latest votes that decided something, and what each measure would do.

  • U.S. Senate · Sep 29, 2026

    Protect College Sports Act of 2026

    S. 4668

    The vote on whether to pass the bill This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.

    Their vote Yea

    Passed

    7722

    This bill sets national rules for student athlete name, image, and likeness rights. It creates protections for academic progress, medical coverage, and health and safety standards.

    • Scored +9

      Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?

      Significantly expands earning potential through NIL rights and provides medical and academic protections for college athletes.

    • Scored -5

      Does this leave more decisions to the states?

      Prevents states from enforcing their own NIL compensation and transfer laws that conflict with the federal framework.

  • U.S. Senate · Sep 29, 2026

    To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

    S.Amdt. 6805

    A vote on a proposed change to the bill A vote on one change, not on the bill. A bill can collect dozens of these, and losing one does not stop it.

    Their vote Nay

    Failed

    4950

    What the Amendment Does Mr. Booker, along with Mr. Blumenthal, submitted this amendment to change how a specific fund or program is paid for in the bill.

Every vote they cast, and how often they missed one →

On the President’s nominees

The President chooses federal judges, cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and military officers, and the Senate decides whether each one gets the job. Most are confirmed by voice vote, which records no one’s position. In the 119th Congress (2025–2026) the Senate put 224 confirmations to a recorded vote, and confirmed every one.

Their votes to confirm, of 224 recorded votes

  • Yes: 218
  • No: None
  • Missed: 6

Those votes covered 588 nominees, because the Senate sometimes confirms many in a single vote.

How busy they have been

How many bills they have put their name to over time — volume, not results: most bills never get a vote.

Legislative activity over time