Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

Senator Donahue’s Dec. 13 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

It has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks meeting with community leaders, school leaders, and working on the AEA task force meeting preparation – which I attended on Monday, the 9th of December.

It resulted in some great conversations that needed to happen to clarify many of the questions people have. We will meet again during session in February, after the data requested by the community members has been collected and analyzed by all, to decide what the next step is.

In the meantime, I’ve had great conversations with city leaders, as well as school leaders, about their priorities for the upcoming session. There are still many more meetings on the calendar over the next two weeks to gather more information prior to session beginning. We have our work cut out for us. But we’re up for the fight.

Wishing you and yours a great holiday season filled with time to relax and to enjoy your family and friends.

Your Legislative Priorities

Last month, my Senate colleagues and I distributed a survey to our respective constituents seeking input ahead of the 2025 legislative session. We wanted to hear directly from you about your top priorities heading into the new year, and you delivered!

As you can see, the three issues receiving the greatest share of votes in the survey were public education, reproductive rights, and protecting the environment. Take a look at the graphic below to see a visualization of the top issues you said lawmakers should focus on in the upcoming session.

And thank you, as always, for your participation in the survey. Our responsibility is to govern on your behalf, so I will always appreciate and value your input.

Quick Updates

  • The Iowa Department of Education released updated Iowa School Performance Profiles for 2023-24. These profiles assess schools on indicators like English, math, and science proficiencies, student growth, and graduation rates. This year, 35 schools were identified for comprehensive support. Parents and educators can use these profiles to understand their school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Learn more atIowa School Performance Profiles.
  • Engaged families make a big difference in student success at school! Here are a few ways parents can help their children over the holiday breaks from school.
    • Daily Reading: Read with your child for 15-20 minutes daily to build literacy skills.
    • Math Practice: Incorporate math into everyday activities like cooking or shopping.
    • Work–based Learning: Find a project around the house and have your student lead the work over school breaks.
  • Iowa State University is ranked #1 in Iowa, #6 in the Midwest, and #14 nationally in the 2025 Top 50 Entrepreneurship Undergraduate rankings by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur. Iowa State offers a major and cross-disciplinary minor in entrepreneurship. Students also have access to the Start Something Network, which provides support and resources for students who want to start their own business, market a new product, or collaborate with other students and faculty on an innovative solution.
  • Tori Paga, a senior at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School is one of only two high school students who have been chosen to represent Iowa at the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington, D.C., in March. Tori will serve as an Iowa delegate and will join over 100 other student leaders for a week-long government and leadership experience in the nation’s capital. Congratulations, Tori!
  • Regional Teachers of the Year: The Iowa Department of Education announced nine teachers, representing all education regions of the state, as the first-ever Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year. Each teacher represents outstanding achievements in K-12 instruction. Each winner was nominated by their fellow Iowans and is a candidate to be Iowa’s next Teacher of the Year. More information about the Regional Teachers of the Year and the award process is available on the Department’s website.
    • Susie Stark, Cedar Rapids Community School District: Stark, a veteran elementary teacher at Viola Gibson Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, has been inspiring young minds for 24 years as a fifth and second grade teacher. She holds a teaching degree and master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa. She also leads after school clubs and community service projects, doing whatever is needed to contribute to student success.
  • ACA Open Enrollment until Jan. 15: The health insurance marketplace available through the Affordable Care Act is now open for individuals who are seeking to enroll in a plan for the first time or change their current plan. The Iowa Insurance Division published some helpful guidance for individuals considering open enrollment, and Iowa has ACA navigators available to help provide direct non-biased counseling for individuals throughout the open enrollment period.
  • IPERS announces highest investment return in three years: IPERS has announced its investment program earned a 9.07% return in FY2024, exceeding its policy benchmark of 8.80%. At the conclusion of FY2024, the value of the IPERS Trust Fund equaled $43.61 billion, a $2.48 billion increase from the same time in FY2023.
  • State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa introduces competition for grade schools: The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa is launching the Junior State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering a love for science and technology among younger students in grades 3-5. This innovative program is designed to provide early exposure to scientific inquiry and technological exploration, creating a strong foundation for future STEM leaders. Registration for the Junior State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa is now open, and more information can be found on the SSTFI website.
  • Applications Now Open to Boost Tourism, Attract Visitors, and Workforce: Community applications are now open for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s First Impressions program. The program is a comprehensive tourism and community assessment partnership between Iowa State University and the Iowa Economic Development Authority/Iowa Tourism Office. Communities with a population of 10,000 or fewer are invited to apply, and five Iowa communities will be selected for the 2025 program year. Visit the First Impressions website for program information, a list of community responsibilities, program fees, and the application form.
  • Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program grants awarded: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing more than $5.2 million in 24 Iowa projects and other supply chain improvement initiatives through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program. The intent of RFSI is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain by developing and expanding markets for Iowa’s small farms and food businesses. The following are local recipients:
    • NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids: RFSI Infrastructure Grant: $458,767.90; Matching Funding: $783,533.90. NewBo City Market will renovate its building in Cedar Rapids to add a second-floor processing kitchen and aggregation storage. This will increase the quantity of Iowa agricultural products stored, processed and sold. Through programmatic business development services and trainings, NewBo will also cultivate purchasing agreements between farmers and small businesses creating new value-added markets.
  • Manage Winter Home Energy Costs: With rising energy costs, it’s important for homeowners and renters to plan their budget each month to cover their various utility bills. The highest utility cost is typically for heating the home. For more information, contact Iowa Concern at 800-447-1985 and ask for free financial counseling.
  • Check eligibility and request energy assistance: The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program assists households with a portion of the home heating bills, particularly households facing disconnection or who have trouble paying their utility bill. The Iowa Health and Human Services website includes a general overview of LIHEAP, as well as a link to local community action agencies. Individuals may apply for the program at the community action agency in their county.
  • State Law Library receives praise: A recent ranking of American libraries placed the State Law Library of Iowa among the top 20 most stunning in the country. The State Law Library is located at the Iowa State Capitol and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In-person Capitol tours, including the State Law Library, can be scheduled on the Legislature’s website.
  • Heroic Iowans Honored: On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the recipients of the 2024 Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards were announced. Recipients include public safety officers and private citizens representing Oelwein, Adel, Cedar Falls, Spirit Lake, and Spencer. Read their stories here, as well as applications to nominate heroes in your community for 2025.

Around the District

Here are some things that have been happening around the district the last couple of weeks:

Here are the events that are coming up: