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Friends,
It's hard to believe we're already six months into 2021 – and it's remarkable to consider how far we've come since the beginning of this year.
We've gone from record COVID-19 infections to nearly half our state fully vaccinated, with vaccines now available for all adults and children over the age of 12.
And legislation that I fought to see passed through Congress this past winter has also dramatically improved the lives of millions of Americans in need. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that food insecurity and financial instability both dropped over 40% in the first quarter of this year – a result of the direct payments, expanded unemployment benefits, and other relief I voted for.
And while we're not completely out of the woods yet on this pandemic, the great strides we've made so far mean we can turn our attention to tackling the long-term effects of the health and economic crises of the past year – as well as address the systemic issues that COVID-19 exposed and worsened.
Here are just a few of the bills that I've been working on which will help Iowa families, students, workers, and industries in the months and years to come.
Expanding Full-Day Kindergarten Nationwide
Years ago – when my oldest son was getting ready to start kindergarten – I discovered that access to full-day kindergarten in West Des Moines was determined by a lottery, leaving some kids behind despite overwhelming evidence of the value of a full kindergarten education.
As a mother, that wasn’t something I could accept so I pushed the school district to change that. That push successfully securing all-day instruction for the entire district.
I’ve seen firsthand the benefits that our kids get from that change, and want to see see that change made nationwide for the 40% of students that don’t currently have that full-day option.
That's why I joined my colleagues to introduce the Universal Full Day Kindergarten Act to expand full-day kindergarten with the help of new grants for local school districts.
Click here to learn more about our bill.
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I explained my new bill on A Starting Point earlier this week – watch here.
Ensuring Iowans' Wages Aren't Undermined
As Congress continues to work toward an infrastructure package that will make critical investments in revitalizing Iowa’s crumbing roads, I want to ensure this investment goes back into our local economies and supports Iowa’s workers.
But due to a practice called “fund swapping,” where city and county governments move federal dollars out of a roadway project in exchange for state funds, protections that ensure Iowa workers get paid the local competitive wage can be erased – undermining the Iowans that our legislation is meant to support.
I wrote legislation that would protect local workers from having their wages undercut – the Stop Swaps, Protect Local Jobs Act.
Learn more about how my bill works by clicking here.
Extending the Biodiesel Tax Credit
When I came to Congress two years ago, I immediately got to work to revive the biodiesel tax credit – which I successfully secured at the end of 2019!
Now, that tax credit – which has supported innovation and homegrown clean energy growth – is due to expire at the end of this Congress. That's why I sponsored bipartisan legislation with colleagues of mine from both the House and Senate to see this key incentive extended to the end of 2025!
Backing clean biodiesel means supporting and expanding an American industry that fuels our society while reducing carbon emissions – and biodiesel has kept millions of tons of carbon out of our air while supporting over 65,000 American jobs.
Learn more about my effort to extend this tax credit by clicking here.
Tell Your Friends - Get Your Vaccine!
More than 60% of American adults have received their first COVID-19 vaccine, and it's never been easier to find one near you!
Find a vaccine location by:
Stay safe and be well,
Cindy
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