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Friends, 

Only four weeks into the new year, and already so much has happened.

We've seen a horrific attack on the seat of our democracy, a historic inauguration, and stark reminders that the fight against COVID-19 is far from over in Iowa.

I'm getting down to business quickly in my second term, and in just the past week I've been able to move forward on a number of priorities that I have for the 117th Congress.

Read on for more information:

My First Bill of the New Congress!

This week, I unveiled my first piece of legislation for the 117th Congress - the Rural Equal Aid Act. The bipartisan bill would cover the full principal, interest, and fees on certain U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans for six months, and up to $9,000 per month for an additional three months after that.

The Main Streets of our rural communities are no less deserving of federal relief efforts that have been implemented to help keep our businesses afloat through these tough times. 

This is a commonsense, bipartisan measure that extends the same relief that SBA borrowers received to USDA borrowers – and I’m proud to make this my first piece of legislation of the new Congress, because this represents one of my primary goals of this new year. Rural America cannot be left behind by relief efforts, and the bipartisan support for this bill illustrates how important it is that we secure this measure in the next round of COVID-19 aid.

Read more about the bill here.

Stopping in Indianola for My First Town Hall

I stopped by Indianola this week to hold my first 'Connect with Your Congresswoman' town hall of 2021. Although we had to keep the crowd small to follow COVID-19 event protocols, and we kept our safe distance with masks on, it was still great to speak with members of the Warren County Farm Bureau about the issues facing Iowa's farmers, rural communities, and the future of our agriculture industry.

In my first term in Congress, I held over 60 town halls in all 16 counties of Iowa's Third Congressional District – because I know the best way to do my job well is to hear directly from you what concerns you have and what you'd like to see Washington do to better represent you.

In the past few weeks, I've also made stops on my 16 County Tour in Madison, Dallas, and Guthrie counties. Follow me on Instagram to see where I've been.

If you want to join me at an upcoming town hall, you can sign up for my newsletter or visit my events page on my website or Facebook page.

Are You Ready to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine?

Vaccines to protect against coronavirus are being distributed now throughout Iowa in phases, and it's important to know when you may be eligible to get your shot.

The State of Iowa is providing the COVID-19 vaccine to those included in Phase 1A, which began in December of 2020. Those eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1A include healthcare personnel as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities, where older Iowans remain especially vulnerable to the virus.

This vaccine is completely safe and I'm encouraging everyone who is eligible to get their shot as soon as they can.

If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and its distribution, you can review my COVID-19 Vaccination Guide here.

What Legislation Should Congress Take Up First?

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office last week. They have a bold vision for the future, and my colleagues and I in the House are looking forward to joining them in creating change that will benefit all Americans. 

We have a long list of priorities, so I’m asking you to help me decide what we should do first.

Take my survey to help guide our priorities as we get down to work for Iowa and all Americans.

Be well, 

Cindy