The Driscoll Dispatch

This week began after a nice weekend celebrating the Easter holiday with our families. This did not slow us down as we got back to work by moving Governor Reynolds’s appointees out of committee on Tuesday. These appointees included the directors of many departments and leaders of various boards and commissions. The appointments will now go to the Senate floor to debate their approval.

On Tuesday, we had an Agriculture Committee meeting where we considered two of Governor Reynolds’s appointees. These included Kevin Boyle for the Agriculture Development Board and Thomas Burkgren for the Board of Veterinary Medicine. These members were passed out of the committee with unanimous support and will now be moved to be considered by the entire Senate. I also had committee meetings for State Government and Workforce, also regarding the governor’s appointees related to those committees.

The Senate also moved forward Senate File 324, which dedicates funds and invests in important initiatives, like the More Options for Maternal Support (MOMS) program. The bill would allocate $2 million to the MOMS program to help pregnant women looking for help and resources, and allows Iowa’s Health and Human Services department to award fatherhood engagement grants to nonprofits and community-based organizations that address the needs of fathers, whether it is employment, financial obligations, or parenting skills. The bill also establishes a state-funded fellowship program for family medicine and obstetric practitioners in rural and underserved areas. Additionally, it increases funding for families seeking adoptions and expanded scholarship opportunities for Iowa foster kids. SF 324 contains several proposals from the governor and focuses on improving health care access in Iowa and help support expecting mothers and fathers.

The scheduled end of the 2023 legislative session is April 28. The nicer weather has many of us itching to conclude session, as well as the many full-time farmers in the Senate need to get in the field and plant this year’s crop. I know my family is excited to have me around to help out on the farm more! We are focused on getting a budget compromise and negotiating on the leftover topics for the year. If you have questions about a bill you have heard about or wondering what happened with a piece of legislation, please do not hesitate to reach out.