Miller-Meeks visits Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — Noon Rotary hosted U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Wednesday, at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club as she responded to concerns about health care, military defenses, and immigration.

As a physician, Miller-Meeks serves on the Healthy Futures Task Force, and addressed some health care concerns from the audience.

According to Miller-Meeks, she is working with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to find solutions to soaring prescription medication costs. Additionally, she is looking for solutions in other realms of health care concerns.

“Mental health is an area I am working very strongly in,” Miller-Meeks said. “We’re looking at having a mental health round table up in the Clinton area. Unfortunately, a small town in Clinton County has seen a lot of suicides in the past year and we’re looking at what we’re doing for mental health and mental health funding.”

Other issues Miller-Meeks says she is working on include technology in health care.

“The Healthy Futures Task Force is looking at technology in health care, as well,” she said. “How do we use artificial intelligence or other devices for health care needs? How do we get those devices to interact with one another, and still protect privacy?”

Though she did not have immediate solutions, Miller-Meeks did empathize with one Rotary member who finds the cost of insulin technology astronomical and reassured her that prescription drug prices and technology solutions were continually being discussed.

One Rotary member asked Miller-Meeks if our military was still ready in case of an attack.

“We have the capability and technology,” Miller-Meeks said. “Many people believe the wars will be technological and less boots on the ground, but I believe that really depends on who your enemy is.”

“We’re still at war whether people think that or not,” she said. “Pulling out of Afghanistan did not end a war. We’re still at war until your enemy is no longer at war with you.”

Miller-Meeks further disclosed her opinion that decreasing our physical military forces is a mistake.

“China is increasing their naval capacity, and so we need to increase our Air Force and Navy,” she said. “That will require an increase in spending.”

According to Miller-Meeks some think China will never act against us, but she sees them as aggressive in their military attacks in other place, and she believes they are watching.

“They are watching the world’s response to Russia invading a sovereign nation like Ukraine,” she said.

Another topic brought to Miller-Meeks at the meeting was immigration.

According to Miller-Meeks, illegal immigration is a problem, but she also sees a problem with legal immigrants being deported because young adults age out of the system.

“It is deplorable and the immigration system needs to be addressed,” she said. “We need a bill for those young adults aging out.”

Miller-Meeks said that this appearance was not meant to be a campaign stop, but rather a stop during recess to connect with her constituents, and she plans to visit as many other counties as she can in this time of recess.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com