This week in Iowa organizing…
Last week saw the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson.
We met Rev. Jackson in the mid 90's when joined us for a "Stop Factory Farms" rally when we were organizing opposition to the influx of factory farm construction all across the state. It was around the time that CCI and our partners in Missouri and Minnesota started a national campaign to win a vote of hog producers to end the mandatory pork-checkoff.
Jackson is warmly remembered here at CCI for being a champion for the power of working-class people and always brought folks from different backgrounds and lived experiences together to fight the good fight. He was all about justice for all, no exceptions. Jesse’s work was firmly grounded in love - not hate, fear or retribution. Something we need more of today.
Rest in power Rev. Jackson. The struggle continues,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Friday saw the first legislative funnel winnow down bills that lawmakers will consider moving forward. We saw our fair share of bad, but there's some good mixed in as well.
Below are the key bills we've been tracking that survived the funnel, but for a pretty comprehensive rundown check out this Iowa Capital Dispatch summary.
Today, the Senate is likely to take up the House's proposal to fund public education at a 2% increase in state aid, still well below the amount our kids and schools need to thrive. A reminder you can find your legislators and their contact information here, this upcoming weekend's legislative forums here, and if you're in Des Moines on March 4 join us for our next lobby day by registering here!
Key bills we're tracking that survived the funnel:
The good:
HF 2447: would require data centers to submit regular reports on their water and energy use, and to not pass their water/energy usage costs onto other customers. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
HF 2117: would provide funding to retrofit up to 100 existing private wells with groundwater monitoring equipment, more than doubling the approximately 60 wells currently monitoring our groundwater. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
SF 2269: funds the Iowa Water Quality Information System at $500,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. Assigned to Senate Appropriations committee, funnel proof.
The bad:
HF 2104: would have ban the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Sen. Klimesh pulled a bait-and-switch and amended the bill to mirror language of SF 2067. Eligible for debate on the Senate floor, would need to be sent back to the House if approved.
SF 2201: would fund public schools with a 2% increase instead of the Senate's 1.75% increase - still below the 5% students need. Passed House, eligible for debate on the Senate floor as early as today.
HF 2296: would take local control away from municipalities by prohibiting them from issuing Community IDs to their residents. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
HF 2530: would prevent the DNR from adding a waterway to an impaired water list until they can ID what kind of animal contributed to fecal bacteria levels. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
HSB 688: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
HF 2527: would limit the ability to sue Big Ag for greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible for debate on the House floor.
Take action
Tonight - Feb. 23: Public School Strong orientation
As the Iowa legislature considers underfunding our public schools yet again with a paltry 2% increase in state aid, 10 school boards have passed our resolution calling on the legislature to fully fund public schools at 5% and phase out of the private school vouchers. Will your district be next?
Full funding for public schools starts at the school board level and we invite you to join other Iowans to our next Public School Strong orientation on Feb. 23 at 7 pm on zoom (register here).
At this meeting folks will learn more about what’s behind the attacks on public education, the purpose and goals of Public School Strong, and receive a free PSS t-shirt!
Tomorrow - Feb. 24: How taxpayers are propping up factory farms & corporate ag
Important legislation related to funding water quality monitoring sensors is still on the table after the first funnel last Friday! House and Senate Democrats have introduced bills that would restore funding for the Iowa Water Quality Information System for one year.
Join us tomorrow at 6pm on zoom to get an overview of these proposals, the path forward for getting this funding into the state budget, and take action to help ensure we have transparent and consistent data when it comes to Iowa's water quality.
Mark your calendar for Feb. 24 at 6 PM and RSVP here to get the information to join the call.
Thursday - Feb. 26: clean water meeting w/ Prof. Rosburg
CCI is hosting our second clean water meeting with Drake professor Tom Rosburg on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 6-7:30PM in Grinnell. Tom is an Ecology and Botany Professor and long time prairie warrior fighting for Iowa's most vulnerable ecosystems.
Join us to hear more about the state of Iowa's water, how it effects our local ecosystems and our health, and the positive impacts of prairie systems on our water. Learn about native ecosystems, leave with native prairie seeds! RSVP to join us here.
Take action for a Farm Bill that puts our health and independent producers before corporate $
The US House Agriculture Committee is anticipated to debate and amend the House version of what’s left of the Farm Bill this week! Both Representatives Feenstra and Nunn sit on the committee.
Please send them an email today and ask them to do two things:
Oppose any version of the Cancer Gag Act or the EATS Act!
Support the New Producer Economic Security Program and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling!
You can find talking points for these issues and emails to contact Feenstra and Nunn here!
We're Hiring!
Iowa CCI is looking to hire an Administrative Assistant to work with the broader CCI staff to carry out essential tasks that support our office working environment. This is a part time, permanent position that would average 20hrs a week.
Learn more and how to apply at iowacci.org/jobs
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Iowa's water crisis could help tip the scales for control of US House [Inside Climate News]
Giving due process its due [Growing New Leaders: Perspectives from Coyote Run Farm]
Too Much Corn [Bleeding Heartland]
Iowans call for state support of water quality monitors [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
Massie seeks to undo Trump's pro-glyphosate executive order [The Hill]