Providing parental leave for death of unborn child

Last week, I joined forces with Sen. Tom Cotton to reintroduce the HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act to provide parental leave and resources for mothers who unexpectedly lose their unborn child.

Under current law, parents don’t have the option to take family leave in the tragic event of a stillbirth. Families who endure such a horrific and painful loss of a baby deserve family leave options while they grieve and heal.

We have a lot more work to do to end the tragedy of stillbirth, but my legislation is a strong step in providing families with care and financial stability during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

Every year in our country, thousands of families face the unimaginable heartbreak of stillbirth. Behind every number is a mom, a dad, a family who grieves birthdays that will never be, dreams that will never come true and a child who will always be loved and remembered.

In Congress, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with stillbirth prevention advocates who have turned their pain into passion.

Last Friday I introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize Sept. 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.

I joined my friend Rep. Kat Cammack in launching a bipartisan effort to expand prenatal screening to prevent miscarriages and stillbirths.

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I also was proud to join Rep. Young Kim in reintroducing the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act.

We owe it to those families to do everything we can to prevent and end this tragedy.

Last year, I was proud to see my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act become law, a major milestone in strengthening care for moms and protecting babies. But our work is far from over on behalf of moms and women who want to become moms and start a family.

These policies may not make headline news, but they will make a difference for families across the country who deserve the opportunity to work, start their own family, achieve their goals and live out the American dream. I will keep fighting to bring hope for healthy moms and healthy babies.

Had a great meeting with Iowa's Department of Transportation in my D.C. office last week. I appreciated the update on ongoing infrastructure projects and look forward to our continued partnership to keep Iowa’s roads safe and reliable.

I also had the opportunity to sit down with some Iowa Gold Star Families and hear their stories of loss, grief, and resilience. The strength of these families is a moving reminder of the heroes we’ve lost — and of our responsibility to uphold our promise to ensure Gold Star Families receive the support they deserve.

Did you know that we have almost returned five million dollars to the district in the past year? Wanted to share some recent casework success stories.

Passport Issue: resolved.

A recently naturalized citizen needed help getting a passport to travel abroad due to a death in the family. We helped them get an emergency passport appointment within 48 hours of the call, and the passport was approved.

VA Questions: answered.

A constituent came to us with questions about how her VA benefits could help with nursing home care. My office connected her with the right VA program, so she has next steps for when she’s ready to move forward.

Life insurance refund: issued.

Another constituent’s family member — a retired USPS employee — was having trouble canceling a life insurance policy and claiming his refund. My team contacted the Office of Personnel Management and quickly resolved the issue, ensuring he received the money the government owed him.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our team here if you need assistance.