This week in Iowa organizing…
Well, I've had enough snow for at least the remainder of 2025. We hope you all stayed warm and safe over the weekend, and hopefully didn't have to do to too much shoveling.
Here at the CCI office we'll be signing off after this week, so we also hope that you, loved ones, and others have a good and nourishing holidays coming up. Then we're back at it in January, with the legislative session getting underway not long after.
Read on for some ways to take action before the holidays (including a possible Grinch sighting over in Davenport), and we look forward to taking action with you for the people and places we love in 2026. Onward,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
Tonight! Dec. 15: Public School Strong
Thank you to all of you who have signed our petition urging our local school boards to pass resolutions calling on the legislature to fully fund our public schools and to phase out private school vouchers that funnel public money to private schools.
Join other Iowans across the state for our last Public School Strong (PSS) orientation of the year tonight, Dec 15 at 7 pm on zoom. 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! RSVP here.
Dec. 16: The 1980’s Farm Crisis to today’s factory farm system
Join us Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and learn from a panel of farmers about what has happened since the 80’s Farm Crisis four decades ago. Corporate farms have overtaken Iowa and bad policies continue to pressure independent family farms to get big or get out.
This farmer panel will share their experiences as well as talk about the path forward, which includes building long term power and changing the policies harming Iowa farmers. RSVP to join us on December 16 at 2 PM here!
Dec. 19: a Grinch themed rally at Rep. Miller-Meeks office
From voting to cut Medicaid and SNAP, to supporting tariffs that drive up prices, to backing cuts to home energy credits and heating assistance for seniors, Miller-Meeks has racked up quite the naughty list.
That's why we'll be joining with our allies this Friday, December 19 at noon, for a festive holiday gathering to call out Rep. Miller-Meeks’ year of grinchy behavior! Folks will be outside her office for 30–45 minutes with speakers, caroling, and plenty of holiday spirit. More information and RSVP to join us here.
Stop the federal version of the Cancer Gag Act
This past legislative session, Iowans came together to defeat Bayer's Cancer Gag Act. So they set their sights on the federal level to gain immunity from lawsuits if folks are harmed from using their products.
This week, the U.S. House is scheduled to vote on the Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill. Section 453 of this bill has language similar to the Cancer Gag Act that would shield pesticide manufactures from lawsuits, freeze EPA regulations, undermine local control and remove incentives for the development of safer products.
Take a minute to tell your U.S. Representative to vote NO on the bill until section 453 is removed from the legislation.
Rep. Miller-Meeks
Phone: (563) 232-0930, (202) 225-6576
Rep. Ashley Hinson
Phone: (319) 364-2288, (202) 225-2911
Rep. Zach Nunn
Phone: (515) 400-8180, (202) 225-5476
Rep. Randy Feenstra
Phone: (712) 224-4692, (202) 225-4426
Jan. 13: Mitchell County petition delivery
Join CCI members on Tuesday, January 13 at 8:30am in Osage for a 500+ petition signature delivery to the County Supervisors in favor of local commonsense protections from Summit Carbon Solutions' dangerous CO2 pipeline. Learn more and RSVP here!
Update
Mitchell Co. members win objection against Summit!
Last month CCI members in Mitchell County asked their conservation board for file an objection against Summit’s proposed CO2 pipeline that aims to go through a County owned wildlife area.
Last week, the board officially filed their formal objection to the pipeline with the Iowa Utilities Commission sharing concerns about the abuse of eminent domain on public land and the impact on endangered species that are protected in the county. Read the objection here!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
'This is how people find their voice' [Barn Raiser]
3 water crisis action items for Iowa lawmakers [Des Moines Register]
Obamacare expiration will have 'death spiral' effect on US healthcare - experts [The Guardian]
I lost my friend to cancer. EPA rollbacks make more losses inevitable [Time]
The future of news is happening where no one is looking [Nieman Lab]