Government : Week in Wrap

Week twelve has concluded, and now we're reuniting with our families for Easter celebrations. The legislative season is rapidly approaching its scheduled conclusion on April 16th. After addressing further legislation this week and deliberating on the governor's appointees, our attention will be shifting towards budget matters.

On Tuesday, March 26th, the Iowa Senate voted on HF 2612 again with the new House amendment. I voted no on this bill because District 42 clearly indicated their disapproval of its passage.My Senate floor comments can be listened to on the Iowa Legislature Debate archive or on my Facebook page (McClintock for Iowa).

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has granted 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants to farmers, small businesses, and nonprofits across 22 counties, amounting to $463,000. These grants will serve to amplify the investment of grant recipients, totaling $1,993,190.47. The announcement was made during Iowa Ag Week at an event hosted by Cortum Farm and Co. near Indianola, one of the recipients of the 2024 grant.

Choose Iowa represents the state's emblem for locally grown, raised, and made products. These grants, offering cost-share opportunities of up to $25,000 per project, aim to support Iowa farmers, businesses, and non-profits in expanding or diversifying their agricultural product range, broadening market reach, and streamlining supply chains. Rhubarb Botanicals, in Springville, was awarded $6,973.00. They will be scaling up medicinal and culinary herb and flower production by acquiring automated walk-behind harvesting equipment to meet growing wholesale demand. The total project budget is $13,946.00.

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, support survivors of violent crimes by raising awareness of this crime and the sharing information on available resources. More than 2,000 Iowans have participated in the Safe at Home program administered by the Iowa Secretary of State since its launch eight years ago. An address confidentiality program, Safe at Home helps survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and stalking, with a substitute address, mail forwarding service, and confidential voter registration and absentee ballot. Today, nearly 1,300 Iowans use the program. Safe at Home is an important program for supporting survivors of violent crimes and helping them feel Safe at Home. Applications for the program can be emailed to safeathome@iowa.gov. I encourage my constituents to contact me using my legislative email with any comments, questions, or concerns.

I look forward to another great week of representing the people of District 42!