This week in Iowa organizing…
The federal government is still shut down. And if the stalemate isn't resolved soon, it won't just be healthcare premiums skyrocketing - so will the demand placed on our food banks as SNAP benefits are set to lapse.
The 2026 midterm elections are still a year out but races for school boards and city councils, and dozens of bond referendums, are on the ballot this Nov. 4. If you haven't voted early, make sure you're voter ready here and make a plan to vote.
Read on for ways to take action, what we're reading, and more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
Government shutdown continues
The federal government is still shut down because Sen. Thune (R - SD) and Rep. Johnson (R - LA) seem to be willing to sacrifice our health to further pad the pockets of millionaires and billionaires. And Iowa's Congressional delegation seem to be okay with over 100,000 of their constituents paying double or more their healthcare.
Check out this piece from our allies at Iowa Farmers Union to read more on how letting Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expire will impact rural Iowans. Then let us know how you or your loved ones could be impacted here. We'll be taking action over the coming weeks to make sure our voices are heard and demand action from our elected officials.
We need Country of Origin Labeling
For too long, family farmers and consumers have been taken advantage of by JBS, Tyson, National Beef (Marfrig), Cargill, Smithfield and other meatpacking corporations. These corporate giants have been pocketing massive profits while farmers go broke and consumers pay sky high prices for beef.
That's why we're urging the US Trade Representative to negotiate for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef. Add your name in support here!
We’ve had mandatory Country of Origin Labeling before but under pressure from multinational meatpackers and their supporters in the checkoff-funded commodity groups, Congress repealed mandatory labeling for beef and pork in 2015. It's long past time to bring it back!
Nov. 13 & Dec. 9: Pre-legislative dig-ins
The 2025 state legislative session was a whirlwind of activity, with mixed results on policy that impact the people and places we love. However, a key defining victory of last session was Iowans coming together to defeat Bayer's "Cancer Gag Act."
We want to go into 2026 committed and ready to defeat Bayer again, and discuss other priorities we'll be lifting up like restoring funding for water quality monitoring sensors, increasing funding for local conservation practices, and funding to map our aquifers.
Join us on Nov. 13 and Dec. 9 for our Pre-legislative Planning zoom series to enter the new year strong:
Water Talk
Last monthly call of 2025 this Thursday
Click here to get registered for our last monthly Zoom of the year!
We will walk through our season in review highlighting YOU and the data you collected, the tools you found or made for sampling, and what we've learned and observed over the past 7 months. We'll also be joined by Heather Wilson from Izaak Walton League to highlight the work of CCI Citizen Scientists.
Finally, what are next steps for this clean water work? CCI is hosting a series of legislative preview Zooms to organize and strategize for the 2026 session. The first one will be all about water quality and quantity. Join us on Zoom Thursday to learn more!
RSVP here for Oct 30 at 5pm to wrap up the 2025 testing season!
Articles of Interest
Polk County 'leading' effort to fund statewide water quality monitoring system
Of corn and cancer: Iowa's deadly water crisis
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Forty organizations offer a plan to revitalize rural America [Barn Raiser]
The coup that finally worked: how Mike Johnson succeeded where the insurrection failed [The Hartmann Report]
The Mamdani moment [Robert Reich]
Hope after No Kings [Growing New Leaders: Perspectives from Coyote Run Farm]
The mysterious rise of cancer among young adults in the Corn Belt [The Washington Post]