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Friends, 

My colleagues in Congress and I worked hard to make sure businesses could stay afloat throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – especially those that were hardest hit like restaurants, movie theaters, and entertainment venues.

And when issues arose with the programs I'd helped to create, I stepped up to help fix those issues - and I'm continuing to work to ensure the aid I helped implement this spring reaches the folks that were expecting that help. 

I joined more than 200 of my House Colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Administrator Isabel Guzman of the Small Business Administration (SBA), urging immediate action to stabilize and improve the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. 

I also backed bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will provide additional funding for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to ensure Iowa restaurants and their workers receive the aid they requested through COVID-19 relief programs created earlier this year. 

While businesses are opening back up as more and more vaccines are distributed, we can't forget about the economic impacts they're still dealing with from last year. I'll continue this fight until everyone is back on their feet. 

That's not all that I've been working on. 

My Rural Veterans' Mental Health Bill Was Signed into Law!

Earlier this week, my bipartisan legislation to expand mental health care for rural veterans was signed into law by President Biden! I'm proud to have led this bipartisan effort to bring more mental health services to veterans in our rural communities.

The Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans' Mental Health Act, named in memory of Iowa veteran Brandon Ketchum, establishes new Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) programs through the VA and supports additional research on rural veteran mental health care needs.

This new law will support veterans struggling with mental health issues, as well as increase assistance for housing insecurity and extensive inpatient hospitalization by integrating community, family, and financial resources in support of independent living.

I worked hard to ensure that veterans in rural communities have better access to services because no veteran should be turned away from the help they need, like Brandon was.

I'm proud to have led this legislation, and I can think of no better way to honor Brandon's memory and service. After serving our country, Brandon lost his own battle with PTSD when he wasn't able to get the mental health care he needed when he returned home.

I promised Brandon's mom that his story would inspire this new law, and I'm glad I could keep my promise to her this week.

Learn more about the new law here. 

$151,200 Awarded in Rural Development Grants

The United States Department of Agriculture recently awarded several grants that will be distributed to four facilities across central and southwest Iowa to help fund improvements at a rural library, an opera center, a hospital, and a mental health service provider. 

The grant money will be distributed amongst the Shenandoah Medical Center, Southwest Iowa Families, Inc. in Clarinda, the City of Atlantic, and the Corning Opera House Cultural Center. 

You can read more about where that money is going by clicking here. 

Congressional App Challenge Under Way

The submission window for the 2021 Congressional App Challenge in Iowa’s Third Congressional District is now open!

High school and middle school students throughout the Third District are invited to submit their original app designs. 

The final day to submit designs is November 1, 2021. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges consisting of computer science teachers and college administrators from around central and southwest Iowa.

The first-place winner’s app will be featured on the House.gov website and the CongressionalAppChallenge.us website. I'm looking forward to seeing this year's submissions. 

I hope everyone has a safe, fun holiday weekend and is able to celebrate Independence Day with loved ones. 

Be well, 

Cindy