For regular updates on my work in Washington and information on when I’ll be in your neighborhood, sign up here for my e-newsletter. 

Friends,

It was a big week out in Washington, D.C.!

Two of my bills passed through the House: my new legislation to expand access to mental health care for veterans in our rural areas, and a bill I wrote that will help protect Iowans from scammers who are trying to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

I also introduced a pair of bills that would help keep manufactured housing communities affordable for residents, and give tenants basic rights and protections.

Here's some more information from this eventful week:

The Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans' Mental Health Act Passed the House!

I spoke this week about a bill I wrote to expand mental health care for our veterans, and honored the service of Iowa's Brandon Ketchum, a Marine veteran.

My bill named after Sgt. Brandon Ketchum, an Iowan and Marine veteran who lost his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder after he couldn't get the medical care he needed, passed the House this week. The legislation provides new intensive community treatment programs for our veterans dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Sgt. Ketchum served two tours in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan. By the end of his service, Sgt. Ketchum suffered from service-related injuries to his knees and back, as well as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. He was receiving treatment at the VA in Iowa but at only 33, Sgt. Ketchum died by suicide after failing to receive intensive mental health services at a VA facility.

I promised Bev, Brandon's mother, when I introduced this legislation that Brandon's story and memory would ensure other veterans get the medical help he did not. I am glad to say I kept that promise. I will keep working to ensure all veterans have access to the services they earned and deserve, regardless of their zip code.

Keeping Manufactured Housing Communities Affordable

The Manufactured Housing Tenant's Bill of Rights Act will give tenants basic rights including the right to sublet, and the right to renew their lease.

This week, I introduced two new bills that would give residents of manufactured housing communities (MHCs) some basic rights when it comes to dealing with property owners. Owners of manufactured housing communities can get federal backing to buy MHCs, but too many only care about squeezing profits out of older Americans and folks living on fixed incomes.

My new legislation provides residents with the right to a renewable lease, eviction protections, and the right to sell their home without moving it, as well as advanced notice of any rent increases or new utility charges.

A second bill I introduced this week would provide grants to help resident-owned groups, nonprofits, and others buy MHCs if they're willing to preserve them as affordable housing that's managed for the benefit of the residents for at least 20 years because we need to support those who will truly be responsible park owners.

My Bill to Combat COVID-19 Fraud is Headed to the Senate

On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed my bill, the COVID-19 Fraud Prevention Act. As we faced an unprecedented health crisis and economic turmoil this last year, we also unfortunately saw an uptick in attempts to mislead or scam folks.

This is unacceptable, and we need to ensure the agencies set up to protect consumers are working as efficiently as possible to track down bad actors and protect Americans from fraud. That's why my bill would create the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which would be tasked with preventing financial fraud against both consumers and investors.

This legislation is designed to protect your hard-earned money. Everyone can agree that it's been a hard enough year, and the last thing anyone needs to worry about is folks trying to take advantage of these uncertain times. 

There's still more work to be done to get each of these bills signed into law, but I'm proud of all that we've accomplished in just a single week here in Washington. Stay tuned for more updates!

Be well, 

Cindy