|
WEEK IN REVIEW
Dear Friend –
In every corner and county of our state, and communities across the nation, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone.
Among the folks hit hardest by the economic fallout of this virus have been women and working moms. At the same time, our youngest generation is falling behind with the continuation of virtual learning—which is failing to give them the education they need.
WATCH: In January alone, 275,000 women left the workforce.
For some helpful guidance, I suggest we follow these revised and updated three R’s of education: Respect the science; Reopen our schools safely; Return students, teachers, and learning to the classroom.
Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks.
The experts, the health officials, and the data have made it clear: we can, and we should, safely reopen our schools. Iowa has led the way on this, and it’s time for other states to follow our lead.
The well-being of our children, our working moms and dads, and our nation’s economy depend on it.
$15 Washington-mandated minimum wage is not the right answer for Iowa
A Washington-mandated federal minimum wage hike to $15/hour during a global pandemic would put a major burden on Iowa’s small businesses at a time when they can least afford it—killing 1.4 million jobs and increasing child care costs on average by 21% per year for families.
Don’t just take it from me—listen to what Iowa small business owners have to say about it:
WATCH: Iowa small business owners describe the detrimental effects of the one-size-fits-all, Washington-mandated $15/hour minimum wage.
Standing Up for Iowa Farmers
Many of Iowa’s farmers and producers have been unable to conduct business as usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I joined my fellow Iowans in urging newly-confirmed U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to expand eligibility of the department’s COVID-19 relief programs to include custom cattle feeders—a sector of Iowa’s agricultural economy operated primarily by family farmers.
Click here or on the image above to read our letter.
Decency and Human Life
In January 2016, Iowan Sarah Root was killed by a drunk driver who was in our country illegally, was released, and never faced justice. Ever since, Sarah’s family has felt the enormous and unimaginable pain of the loss of their daughter.
Click here or on the image above to read more about my effort from KWWL.
No family should ever have to go through what Sarah’s mother, Michelle, and others have gone through. That’s why I’m leading the Senate in denouncing the Biden Administration’s plan to ease immigration enforcement priorities for those charged with drunk driving and violent crimes—a move that could allow more violent criminals like Iowan Sarah Root’s killer to escape justice.
BONUS READ
Access to quality, affordable child care is hard to come by—particularly in Iowa’s rural areas—and our kiddos and working parents are paying the price. As a mom who has been in those situations, I’m going to keep pushing at the federal level to help tackle this crisis.
Click here or on the image above to read my column.
For more updates on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and Iowa, be sure to ‘Like’ my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter @SenJoniErnst, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Thank you!
|
