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Friends, 

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure to welcome U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to Iowa and introduce him to some of the great Iowans who are working around the clock to help others and talk with him about legislation I'm working on in Congress that could support Iowans in need.

Read on to learn more about the Secretary's visit and to get more updates from the past weeks!

Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

When Secretary Becerra told me he was coming to Iowa to hear what issues mattered to folks in our state, I was straight with him: the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs are unacceptable and Iowans are struggling to keep up.

During his visit, we met with advocates for older Iowans who shared similar stories to what I've heard in my town halls: Iowans skipping meals, decreasing doses, and selling family heirlooms just to make ends meet while getting their medications.

Secretary Becerra and I are both committed to lowering the costs of prescription drugs, and we shared that right now - in Congress - we're pushing to ensure that more affordable prescription drugs are part of President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda.

We also visited the great folks working at Primary Health Care in Des Moines - one of the health clinics working on the front lines to battle surging COVID-19 variants and getting vaccines in arms.

Over the past year, I've worked in Congress to bring more than $9 million in HHS grants to this facility - and more than $1 billion in HHS funding to help our state's health care providers navigate this public health emergency.

In Honor of John Lewis, Restoring the Voting Rights Act

For decades, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – one of country’s greatest victories from the Civil Rights Era – ensured that localities could not enact discriminatory measures that undermine Americans’ right to vote.

But sadly, in recent years, those protections have been eroded by Supreme Court rulings that have struck down provisions of the law – allowing the voting rights that were protected by this landmark bill to come under attack.

Just this year, state legislatures have passed more than two dozen new voter suppression laws that limit access to the ballot and make it harder to vote – including new restrictions right here in Iowa.

That's why I co-sponsored legislation named for my late friend and voting rights champion John Lewis to restore and update the Voting Rights Act. I'm committed to fighting back against voter suppression and giving citizens the foundation to challenge attacks on their rights.

And I'm pleased to share that this week, the House officially passed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!

Learn more about that bill by clicking here.

Young Iowans Can Now Apply for a Military Service Academy Nomination!

One of my most important responsibilities as Representative for Iowa’s Third Congressional District is to nominate our future leaders to serve at one of our nation’s prestigious military service academies.

From now until November 5th, Iowans between the ages of 17 and 23 can apply to my office to receive a nomination to serve at one of our nation’s service academies.

For more information on how to apply and qualify, click here.

In addition to being at least 17 and not older than 23 by July 1st, 2021, candidates for nomination must also be a resident of Iowa and a U.S. Citizen, unmarried with no children or dependents, and able to meet high leadership, academic, physical and medical standards. 

Applicants should first apply directly to the academy of their preference, and then submit an application to my office by clicking here.

Be well, 

Cindy